Saturday Breakdown:
It should be … but it's not quite that simple
Nov. 20, 1999
It's so tantalizingly simple. Two undefeated teams … one national championship game.
It's all fits together so nicely after Saturday's games.
The only thing that could mess up the BCS is -- drum roll, please -- the BCS itself.
Well, that and Boston College. But even though the Eagles are playing well, those confounding BCS computers still seem to be a bigger threat than BC to Virginia Tech's dream season.
This we know: Top-ranked Florida State, thanks to its 30-23 victory over Florida in The Swamp, will be half of the Sugar Bowl matchup. It would be sooooo nice if the Hokies beat Boston College next Friday to go to 11-0 and join the Seminoles in New Orleans.
It would be No. 1 vs. No. 2. No arguments.
But with the BCS, we trust nothing.
The question of the day -- or even of the next two weeks -- is: Can a one-loss Nebraska team (assuming that it beats Colorado next week and Texas in the Big 12 title game) pass Virginia Tech in the BCS rankings?
The answer is, uh, well … maybe.
The Cornhuskers did close the gap Saturday, even though they were idle. Because of Florida's loss, NU will move from No. 4 to No. 3 in the voter polls, lowering their BCS total by one point, to 7.7 -- 1.4 behind Virginia Tech.
We could bore you with the decimal points data on how Nebraska could inch up on the Hokies (we won't do that yet … but suffice it to say the Cornhuskers aren't out of the race and the Hokies aren't out of the woods.
Game of the day
| Skirmish in the Sunshine State |
| It wasn't the prettiest game of the day, but when two powers slug it out down to the last play, and the ball hangs in the end zone after a deflection on a last-second Hail Mary pass, and your heart skips a beat while wondering where that ball will land … well, it's the best game of the day. In Florida State's victory over Florida, we learned that one Chris Weinke is worth two Florida quarterbacks … and then some. And know we know that Steve Spurrier doesn't like lemons (but more on that later). |
Sizzlin' … the countdown
| 3. Trevor Terrific |
| Nevada's Trevor Insley has been sizzlin' all year … and hasn't gotten enough attention for it, so here it is. Maybe he's a product of the pass-first, pass-often system on a team that is always forced to play catch-up, but he has numbers impossible to ignore. With 14 more catches for 242 yards on Saturday, Insley became the first NCAA receiver to reach 2,000 yards (2,060) in a season -- and that's a ton. |
| 2. Crazy about the Cardinal |
| Say what you will about the Pac-10's laughable season, but Stanford going to the Rose Bowl is very cool. How a team that entered the week ranked below everyone but Buffalo in NCAA total defense can be going to an elite bowl is still way baffling, but, hey, that's part of what makes this so cool. Memo to Tyrone Willingham: It's OK to smile now. |
| 1. See you in the Sugar |
| Bobby Bowden is one victory away from his first undefeated season, and he can now claim a fairly decisive victory over Steve Spurrier for the '90s: 7-4-1. |
Fizzlin' … the countdown
| 3. It's best not to leave the house |
| Losing away from home isn't always a disaster, but being shut out is embarrassing, and being shut out three times in a row is a time for some deep reflection and re-evaluation. Missouri coach Larry Smith will have plenty of time in the offseason to think about this: The Tigers were outscored 124-0 in their last three road games, including a 66-0 wipeout at Kansas State on Saturday. |
| 2. Backing into the Outback |
| Penn State's decline has been swift and sharp -- from the Sugar to Rose to the Citrus to the Outback. That probably makes LaVar Arrington mad enough to go beat up a punter. |
| 1. Swamped |
| Florida's home invincibility was shattered by Alabama earlier this season, and The Swamp turned against the Gators again on Saturday. Late in Saturday's game, with Florida trying to get the ball back for a tying score -- no timeouts left -- a lemon was thrown onto the field, presumably by a fan. The game was stopped and officials then re-started the play clock, costing the Gators 19 precious seconds.
Steve Spurrier's request for the lost time was denied by an official. "He said, 'That's the rub of the green,' '' Spurrier said. "I said, 'The green, my fanny.' " In any case, it was Florida State dancing on that green grass, thanks, in part, to that yellow lemon. |
Best imitation of Peter Warrick by a quarterback
| Can he win the next three Heismans? |
| There's nobody faster, slicker and niftier than Virginia Tech's Michael Vick, who is as dangerous in the open field as any running back or receiver. Witness his 53- and 75-yard scrambles for touchdowns against Temple. "Eighty-five to 95 percent of the other quarterbacks would have been sacked," lamented Temple coach Bobby Wallace. "He goes for two long touchdowns." |
Home for the holidays
| Hey, didn't you guys used to be good? |
| UCLA, North Carolina, Washington State, Ohio State and LSU. What do these teams have in common? All five finished in the top 13 just two seasons ago, but have slid all the way to mediocrity … and below … some way below. None will be part of a postseason so generous that 40 percent of the teams (46 of 114) will go bowling. Notre Dame won't be one of them, either (thanks to its loss Saturday against Boston College). And Southern California will be staying home, too … although the Trojans are getting used to that. The only bowl USC has been to in the past four seasons is last year's disastrous Sun Bowl, a loss to TCU. |
Best call of the day
| Southern Miss is a hit with fake punt |
| With the game tied late against Louisville, Conference USA title on the line, the Golden Eagles lined up to punt from the Cardinals 37. But Jamie Purser didn't punt, he threw to Shawn Mills for a 26-yard game, setting up a game-winning 27-yard field goal four plays later. Said coach Jeff Bower: "It was just the right opportunity." Not everyone agreed, which brings us to … |
Whiner of the day
| Tricky or not, he didn't stop it |
| While acknowledging that the fake punt was "smart," Louisville coach John L. Smith wasn't exactly a good sport about being fooled. "You really don't want to hear my interpretation of the fake punt," he said. "It's a shame to me that a league championship would come down to a play of deception." Oh well. We liked it. A lot. |
Moment easiest to get choked up about
| Sweetness |
| Playing for the first time since his father died and having changed his uniform number to his dad's 34, Miami freshman Jarrett Payton scored his first collegiate touchdown, using a stiff arm and a spin move to break tackles and reach the end zone on a 16-yard run. He then thumped his chest twice and pointed toward the sky … and you would like to think that Walter Payton looked down and smiled. |
Swan songs
| Four coaches call it a day |
Spike Dykes, Texas Tech: Saying it was "time for a bit of fresh air," the 61-year-old Dykes retired following a 38-28 victory over Oklahoma, the team's third upset win of the season (Texas A&M and Colorado were the others). Problem was, Tech lost to hapless Missouri and North Texas.
Dick Flynn, Central Michigan: Losing to a team that had lost 16 games in a row would be a shameful finale, but the Chippewas won one for the Flynner in a 27-21 victory over Ball State.
Carl Torbush, North Carolina: Two largely unsuccessful seasons ended well for Torbush, whose team beat rival North Carolina State last week and shutout Duke on Saturday. The players carried him off the field … as a winner.
Jeff Tisdel, Nevada: His farewell wasn't as sweet as the other three on Saturday; the Wolf Pack suffered a last-minute defeat to Utah State, 37-35. |
Five stars of the day
| 1. TCU running back LaDainian Tomlinson |
Stats: Rushed 43 times for an NCAA I-A record 406 yards and six TDs in victory over UTEP.
Comment: He's not especially well known, but he's far from a one-hit wonder. Tomlinson started the year with a 170-yard performance against Arizona, later added a 269-yard day against Arkansas State, moved up the ladder for 300 yards vs. San Jose State and now this: The greatest day any running back has ever had. |
| 2. Florida State quarterback Chris Weinke |
Stats: Completed 24 of 36 for 263 yards, 1 TD and 1 interception against Florida.
Comment: In the regular-season Game of the Year, it was his calm leadership (in stark contrast to the Florida quarterbacks) that powered FSU to victory. |
| 3. Maryland running back LaMont Jordan |
Stats: Rushed 37 times for 306 yards and two TDs in 34-30 loss to Virginia.
Comment: His big day came in a loss and he gained 100 yards fewer than LaDainian Tomlinson, but 300 yards is 300 yards … and, unlike Tomlinson, he did against a bowl-bound team. |
| 4. Alabama running back Shaun Alexander |
Stats: Rushed 33 times for 182 yards and three touchdowns
Comment: OK, so they stuffed him at the goal line a couple of times. But as he often does, Alexander led the Tide to victory, rushing for 101 yards and all three TDs in the fourth quarter to fuel a come-from-behind 28-17 victory over rival Auburn and advance to the SEC title game against Florida. |
| 5. Cal cornerback Deltha O'Neal |
Stats: 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and 58-yard punt return for a TD in loss to Stanford
Comment: The fact that he has absolutely no help shouldn't distract from another fabulous individual performance. His two TDs Saturday gave him six for the season … more than twice as many as any Cal offensive player. |
Quotes of the day
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"We are a great team." |
| -- Florida State receiver Peter Warrick |
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"We're not smart enough to be great."
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| -- Florida coach Steve Spurrier |
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