Sep 13, 2010
Monster Saturday, as it was so quaintly dubbed by the people who make up such nonsensical monikers at the World Wide Leader of Hype ESPN, turned out to be more of a gremlin rather than a Grendel. Although there were many intriguing matchups on the schedule featuring ranked and historic programs, many of them rematches of classic bowl games, only one such contest proved to be competitive right to the very end. Which is ironic, because you would think the game where one player accounted for over 500 total yards by himself would be anything but competitive.
But of the half dozen or so titanic tilts, only Michigan vs. Notre Dame was able to deliver any late drama. And the majority of that drama was provided by one man, the Wolverines’ magnificent sophomore quarterback, Denard Shoelaces Robinson.
For the second straight week Robinson singlehandedly carried his team to victory by using his arm and his legs. Against the Golden Domers, the dreadlocked dynamo amassed an unfathomable 502 total yards – 244 passing, 258 rushing – and orchestrated a final drive that culminated with him bulling his way into the end zone for the final score of a thrilling 28-24 victory.
In two games Robinson has thrown for 430 yards, ran for 455 yards and tallied five touchdowns. He’s averaging 7.8 yards per carry and 10 yards per completion; to say he is the frontrunner for the Heisman is the understatement of the year. In fact I’m going to go out on a limb and say the only way he doesn’t win the award is if he gets hurt this season, which is usually a possibility with a running QB, only no one can seem to catch this guy!
As for the other ‘monster’ matches, only one came close to living up to the hype. Let’s do a quick rundown of the big games that weren’t as big as we hoped.
#1 Alabama 24, #18 Penn State 3 did anyone really expect JoePa’s squad to show up in Tuscaloosa for the first time in 20 years and spoil another ‘Bama season? Not with a freshman quarterback they weren’t. Despite the long and storied histories of these programs, the Nittany Lions aren’t in the same league as the defending national champions any more, and this lopsided victory just solidified that fact
#2 Ohio State 36, #12 Miami 24 revenge was on the mid of the Hurricanes, who still feel the 2002 national championship was handed to the Buckeyes on a dubious call by the referee. But OSU didn’t need any help from the zebras in the soggy Horseshoe on Saturday, just another solid effort from Terrelle Pryor (233yds pass, 113yds rush, 2 TDs) and a quartet of picks by ‘Cane QB Jacory Harris
#10 Oklahoma 47, #17 Florida State 17 hard to believe the Sooners surrendered 421 yards and 21 points to Utah State last week after this cremation of the rebuilding Noles. Oklahoma scored early, often and with ease against the sieve-like Seminole defense, which happens to be coached by Sooner boss Bob Stoops’ brother, Mark. Talk about having bragging rights at the family reunion!
#8 Florida 38, South Florida 14 for the second straight week the Gators started rough and trailed early. But unlike against Miami (OH), they got things turned around in a hurry against the error-prone Bulls. Trying to prove they belong with the big boys in the Sunshine State, USF took a swan dive in the Swamp, turning the ball over five times, allowing the Gators to look more impressive than they actually are. Urban Meyer will have to work out the kinks as his team heads to Knoxville to face the wounded Vols…
#7 Oregon 44, Tennessee 13…because Tennessee will be looking for a statement win after surrendering a 13-3 lead and ultimately getting crushed at home by the mighty Ducks, who have now put up 120 points and 1,167 yards in two games. With RB LaMichael James (134yds, TD) back from suspension, Oregon could be heading to its first Rose Bowl in 15 years after this season. Tennessee? Still rebuilding.
By far the most shocking outcome of the week involved one of the teams from last week’s marquee matchup. Somehow #13 Virginia Tech managed to lose to James Madison, 23-16, at Lane Stadium, just six days after surrendering a game-losing touchdown in the last minute to Boise state on Labor Day. But losing a heartbreaker to the #3 team in the country is not embarrassing. Losing to an FCS (i.e Division II) school at home is beyond embarrassing, it’s downright unforgivable. And even though Frank Beamer is beloved at and entrenched in that program, this is the kind of loss that get a coach fired, if not immediately, then somewhere down the road. I mean James freaking Madison??!!
Quick Hits:
- massive Auburn DT Nick Fairley had a monster first half against Mississippi State on Thursday night, with 3 tackles, ½ sack, an interception and a fumble recovery. If the #16 Tigers go on to have a big season, Fairley and giant, versatile QB Cam Newton will be big (emphasize ‘big’) reasons why
-once considered Quarterback U, Houston has suddenly developed a running game to compliment its potent aerial attack. The Cougars rushed for 308 yards and 6 TDs in a 54-24 drubbing of UTEP, with RB Bryce Beall (16 carries, 195yds, 3 TDs) leading the charge on the ground
-nice bounceback win for Kansas and coach Turner Gill – one week after dropping a 6-3 decision at home to North Dakota State, the Jayhawks held on for a solid 28-25 victory over #15 Georgia Tech, giving the fans in Lawrence reason to cheer after being thoroughly embarrassed last week
-speaking of the Dakotas, this week it was South Dakota’s turn to get in on the upset parade, as the Coyotes upended the Golden Gophers, 41-38, in Minneapolis. “I don’t want to discredit South Dakota in any way … but it certainly is an unacceptable loss on our part”, Minny coach Tim Brewster said afterwards; that about sums it up, coach.
-John Clay for Heisman? I know I said a healthy Denard Robinson is a lock for the award, but if he keeps this production up, big John will be right there with his fellow Big 10 player in New York City in December. Still rounding into shape after offseason surgery, Clay ran for 137 yards and a pair of scores Saturday, his 8th straight 100+-yard game. He now has 460 yards and four TDs on just 40 carries this season, a nice 6.5 YPC clip
-it was billed as a battle of former Plant (Tampa) High quarterbacks, but #24 South Carolina’s 17-6 victory over #22 Georgia was decided by running and defense. Gamecock RB Marcus Lattimore (37 carries, 182yds, 2 TDs) took the pressure off QB Stephen Garcia, and UGA QB Aaron Murray couldn’t duplicate the success he had in his Bulldog debut last week (note: another Plant product joins the SEC QB party next year when Phillip Ely enters his freshman year at Alabama)
It was another entertaining week, though not as thrilling as the opening weekend, and not nearly as exciting as we all expected. Next week the big games are scarce (Iowa/Arizona anyone?), so feel free to enjoy one of the last weekends of summer before the real fall classics, i.e. conference clashes, kick in.
But watch out for those Dakotas!
Post Tags:bowl, final score, freshman quarterback, golden domers, Monster, quarterback, sophomore quarterback, understatement of the year, victory, Week
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by: J Rose
more by: J Rose
