Fourth and inches… (week of Sept. 15, 2007)

By T Erickson  |   Thursday, September 13, 2007  |  Comments( 4 )

College Football
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans!

Early season surprises ... If anyone predicted in the preseason that both Michigan and Notre Dame would be winless heading into this weekend's game in Ann Arbor, he or she would have to be clairvoyant. Oddly enough, there's just as much intrigue in this game to see who will be 0-3 in the aftermath as there would be if both teams were 2-0 and ranked. Adding more fuel to the fire, Michigan running back Mike Hart has boldly guaranteed a Wolverine victory. I can't remember when both teams have looked so vulnerable in the same season ... Reliable sources are reporting that this truly will be Lloyd Carr's last year. Duh, ya think so? Hey, maybe Jim Harbaugh will apply for the job.

►Heisman hype... Give credit to Georgia Tech head coach Chan Gailey for taking it easy on Samford last week. Sensational running back Tashard Choice got 110 yards and two TDs on 11 carries against Samford and then took a seat in the 69-14 massacre. Choice will have his chance to shine this week when the Ramblin' Wreck host No. 21 Boston College. Nebraska's Marlon Lucky faced much stiffer competition on the road against Wake Forest and came away with 90 yards and a score on 24 carries. If Marlon has a big game against USC this weekend, he'll remain in the race. If not, you can count him out. Cal's DeSean Jackson had five receptions for 39 yards and two carries for 78 yards against Colorado State last week. Seventy-three of those rushing yards came off a reverse play that Jackson took the distance. Arkansas had the week off, so nothing new to add about RB Darren McFadden. He'll have a prime opportunity to shine on the road this week at Alabama.

►More Heisman talk at the water cooler ... You can drop UCLA's Ben Olson from the list of hopefuls ... despite eeking out a win against his former teammates, BYU held Olson to a dismal statistical performance (13 of 28 for 126 yards and one INT). Two of the big-name QB candidates put up some eye-popping numbers against weak opponents ... Louisville's Brian Brohm was 25 of 39 for 401 yards and 5 TDs against Middle Tennessee State ... Hawaii's Colt Brennan went 43 of 61 for 548 yards and four TDs and a pick against Louisiana Tech ... Facing stiffer competition, dual threat Pat White of West Virginia was 13 of 18 for 149 yards and two TDs through the air - as well as 125 yards and a TD on 18 carries against Marshall. Teammate Steve Slaton added 146 yards rushing and a pair of touchdowns on 24 carries ... Texas gunslinger Colt McCoy finished 25 of 38 for 239 yards, one TD, and two picks in the Longhorns' comeback win over TCU.

►One sure Heisman candidate for next year? ... BYU's QB Max Hall. The redshirt sophomore transfer from ASU has put up some strong numbers and outperformed both of his Pac-10 counterparts -- Willie Tuitama (Arizona) and UCLA's Ben Olson -- in the first two weeks of this young season. Last week, Hall went 30 of 52 for 391 yards, two TDs and one INT against the Bruins. In the first two games of his collegiate career, Hall's line is 56 of 91 (61.5 percent) for 679 yards, four TDs and one pick.

QUICK HITS

► Worst fans?... Hands down, it has to be Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights' fans hurled volley after volley of derisive and profanity-laced taunts at the Naval Academy team and fans in last week's 41-24 home victory. None of the taunts could be repeated in this column, but let's just say if the Defense Department wanted to set up a draft for only Rutgers students, I'd be all for it. Rutgers school officials, including AD Robert Mulcahy, issued a letter of apology to the Naval Academy this week. They've also sent an open letter to students requesting better behavior at future games.

►Is ACC the weakest BCS conference? ... Food for thought ... Three of the ACC's top teams lost their non-conference games last week ... Miami was crushed 51-13 by Oklahoma, Virginia Tech rolled by LSU, 48-7, and Wake Forest lost at home to Nebraska, 20-17. Two weeks ago, Virginia lost to Wyoming, 23-3, and North Carolina State lost to Central Florida. Last year, the ACC was 6-16 in non-conference games against BCS schools. So far, Georgia Tech, Clemson, and Boston College are the only bright spots for the conference.

►Potential BCS Busters ... Central Florida, if it pulls off the upset over Texas this week ... of the four hopefuls from last week, Hawaii is hanging by a thread ... TCU and BYU lost to top-12 teams but could still have a chance if they don't lose again ... Boise State got walloped by unranked Washington and doesn't look to have a chance.

►You never wish this on a player ... USC junior defensive back Josh Pinkard tore an ACL in his left knee and will miss the rest of this season. Last year, Pinkard tore up his right knee and had to sit out nearly the entire season. Louisville safety Latarrius Thomas and Tennessee defensive back Antonio Gaines are also out for the year with knee injuries. Here's wishing you guys all a speedy recovery and return to the gridiron next season.

►Whatever happened to ... Miami senior QB Kyle Wright? After losing the starting role to Kirby Freeman in the Hurricanes' first two games this season, Wright is back on the first team for the Florida International game this week. The Class of 2003's most highly prized national QB recruit, the Danville, Calif., native has gone 14-7 as a starter in his college career at Miami with 4,058 yards passing.

►Speaking of Miami and Florida International ... Do you remember the huge mid-game brawl that occurred between these two teams last year with helmets and cleats being used as weapons? Thirty-one players were sanctioned -- 18 from FIU, 13 from Miami. They promise it won't happen again this year. Honest.

►Quick Snap ... presented by the 83rd East-West Shrine Game, Jan. 19, 2008 in Houston on ESPN:

When was the last time that a winless Notre Dame team played a winless Michigan team?

Be quick and be correct. Send your answer to quicksnap@realfootball365.com. The first email received with the correct answer wins you a limited edition two-card set of 2007 Rose Bowl Game trading cards. The winner will be announced in next week's Fourth and inches...

Last week's winner, Randy Johnson, correctly answered that the last time Ohio State played an unranked Michigan team in The Rivalry Game was 1993. No. 5 Ohio State (9-0-1) took it on the chin 28-0 from the unranked Wolverines (6-4) in Ann Arbor that year. Congratulations, Randy!

►Best Games of the Week ... Texas Longhorns at Central Florida Golden Knights ... Ohio State Buckeyes at Washington Huskies ... Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Michigan Wolverines ... Tennessee Volunteers at Florida Gators ... Arkansas Razorbacks at Alabama Crimson Tide ... BYU Cougars at Tulsa Golden Hurricane ... Louisville Cardinals at Kentucky Wildcats ... Fresno State Bulldogs at Oregon Ducks ... Boston College Eagles at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets ... Wyoming Cowboys at Boise State Broncos ... USC Trojans at Nebraska Cornhuskers ...

►Upset Specials of the Week ... Last week (2-2, season 3-5) ... Wyoming Cowboys over Boise State Broncos ... Fresno State Bulldogs over Oregon Ducks ... Central Florida Golden Knights over Texas Longhorns ... Kentucky Wildcats over Louisville Cardinals

Todd Erickson is a member of the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and the author of Road to the Rose Bowl (Silverback, 2005) the definitive book on the last 50 years of match-ups and tradition in the Rose Bowl Game.

Get more original college football insights at Realfootball365.com
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans! (4)

About T Erickson

Sorry, T Erickson's bio is currently not available. Please check back soon!
read more
Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report