The First One Bites The Dust: This past Thursday, the #15-ranked Pitt Panthers traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah to challenge the unranked Utah Utes. What happened? Utah held the Panthers to 60 yards - in the second and third quarters combined - and won the game in overtime when Pitt QB Tino Sunseri threw an interception. Oh Lord, not this again - we have immediate proof that, when the BCS computer had to be rebuilt chip-by-chip at the end of last season's insanity, the wiring's still gotta be faulty somewhere.
Graduates of the Bill Belicheck School of Opponent Demoralization: Florida State, Alabama, and Oregon scored a combined 170 points while their opponents scored a combined 9. Oregon won against the New Mexico Lobos (whatever those are) by a score of 72-0. In said blood-match, the Ducks posted 720 combined yards of offense. Imagine that - statistically, that's one point for every 10 yards moved. Also: none of the 72 points were scored by the defense.
I'll take you boys out for ice cream if you make it to 100 next time! Source: Steve Dykes, Getty Images.
Really Weird Bonus Statistic: In its season opener, Tebow-less Florida (#4) had only 113 pass yards against Miami - Ohio. They did, however, have 129 kick return yards and 106 interception return yards. Whoah. You can build a team around return men and safeties, right, Urban?
That's a Penalty? In the third quarter of Notre Dame's first win under the Brian Kelly Era, Purdue QB Robert Marve (Rhymes with "Favre") scrambled 23 yards for a touchdown. As he approached the goal line, he dived into the air and turned a somersault into the end zone - upon which he was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. We went over this last year, but under the NCAA Rulebook clause on "unsportsmanlike conduct", "altering one's stride while scoring" is indeed considered an infraction. Now, I don't understand this. Marve wasn't taunting the opponent. He didn't throw the football in an opposing corner's face, or punch the referee in the stomach, or drown a sack full of puppies in the Gatorade - why was he flagged? Spiking the ball in the end zone, hugging the mascot, or high-fiving the drum major are not unsportsmanlike!
Amusing Announcing: Notre Dame receiver Michael Floyd, diving to catch a pass overthrown in the corner of the end zone, couldn't stop his momentum. Both Floyd - and the defender - flew headlong into the percussion section of Notre Dame's band, knocking drummers and their instruments to the ground. An NBC announcer quipped, italics mine, "I think he [Floyd] and Dayne [ND QB Dayne Crist] need to time this up a little better." Uh, ya think?*
Things That Make You Go Awwwww: Boston College LB Mark Herzlich spread his arms wide as he lead his team onto the field before the Eagles' opening game - and the crowd cheered wildly. Herzlich missed all of last year as he was being treated for Ewing's Sarcoma - an uncommon form of bone cancer. In the game, Herzlich recorded five tackles. Rainbows formed overhead, unicorns pranced around the stadium, and a 10-year old ES survivor even sang the national anthem. All the best, kiddo.
Mark Herzlich: Cancer can't beat him; neither can Weber State.** Source: fantasycollegeblitz.com
More to come later.
*The whole episode smacked of the Lloyd Carr era at Michigan, where Mario Manningham (who now plays for the NY Giants) would end up tangled in the band at least once a season.
**Mini Soliloquy O' Science: Ewing's Sarcoma is a rare disease (incidence of about 5 people in one million) characterized by severe bone pain, occurring most commonly in the legs and pelvis. Although fairly uncommon, it occurs must frequently in male teenagers and is due to a genetic oopsie. Thanks, Wikipedia!
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