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Friday, December 13, 2002
On the Mike: Irish eyes are smiling
By Mike Diegnan
BCSfootball.com
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The Heisman race
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1. Michael Vick, Virginia Tech QB
Last week: 7-11-1-186, 2 TDs; rush: 8-102, 2 TD
This week: at East Carolina (Thursday)
Comment: He was as good as advertised against Akron. Now he faces a Pirates team that wants to show off its QB, David Garrard.
2. Drew Brees, Purdue QB
Last week: 25-42-0-318, 3 TDs
This week: Kent
Comment: Brees can put up some more big numbers on a Kent defense that allowed 293 passing yards to Pittsburgh last week.
3. Chris Weinke, Florida St. QB
Last week: Off
This week: at Georgia Tech
Comment: Weinke did everything right in his debut, but slipped behind Vick and Brees.
4. Eric Crouch, Nebraska QB
Last week: 4-10-2-67, 1 TD; rush: 8-57, 3 TDs
This week: at Notre Dame
Comment: The Big Red rolled up 505 rushing yards like the days of lore. Now under the gaze of Touchdown Jesus, Crouch will have the media's full attention.
5. Quincy Carter, Georgia QB
Last week: 16-27-1-203, 2 TDs; rush: 6-8, 1 TD
This week: at South Carolina
Comment: Carter was near flawless in deposing of I-AA Georgia Southern. He has three more games in September to prepare for Tennessee.
6. Santana Moss, Miami WR
Last week: 2-35; run: 1-75, 1 TD; PR: 1-77, 1 TD
This week: at Washington
Comment: Moss jumped onto the scene with his two-TD game. But Ken Dorsey will have to find him more often against the Huskies.
7. M. Tuiasosopo, Wash. QB
Last week: 16-30-1-223, 1 TD; 15-80, 1 TD
This week: Miami (Fla.)
Comment: No one from Alabama has ever finished within the top three vote-getters for the Heisman. If Milons can exploit the Bruins, it could change this fall.
8. Deuce McAllister, Ole Miss RB
Last week: 9-29, 2 TD; rec: 2-52, 1 TD
This week: Auburn
Comment: The Deuce had a light load against Tulane, but now the speedy back gets his first look at an SEC defense.
9. LaDainian Tomlinson, TCU RB
Last week: Off
This week: at Nevada
Comment: Let the countdown to 2,000 begin.
9. (tie) LaMont Jordan, Maryland RB
Last week: Off
This week: Temple
Comment: He passed his classes. He's back in the lineup. But he has to wait another week for his first game.
10. Anthony Thomas, Mich. RB
Last week: 23-108, 1 TD
This week: Rice
Comment: John Navarre stole his spotlight.
DROPPED OUT:
Jamar Fletcher, Wisconsin CB
Comment: See Peter Warrick: Can't win the Heisman when you don't pay full price.
Freddie Milons, Alabama WR
Comment: His punt return was exciting, but 'Bama's got to win for Milons to take home the trophy.
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Many a Notre Dame fan wanted Bob Davie's head after last season when the Irish lost their final four games and failed to qualify for a bowl for the first time since the Gerry Faust years (notwithstanding Lou Holtz's first year).
How things have changed after just one game.
Beating Texas A&M is not enough to fend off the sharks just yet, ND still has games with Nebraska, Purdue and Michigan State the next three weeks, but Davie is still in the boat and calmly leading the ship.
Maybe it's not calmly, but Davie is still at the controls.
This is his fourth year, meaning the players he recruited to South Bend are now playing for him, namely quarterback Arnaz Battle (who chose ND over Nebraska) and running back Julius Jones. Notre Dame's roster is not near the caliber of its late '80s and early '90s teams, but the win over A&M showed that the team is much further ahead than last year's 5-7 record indicates.
Now is Davie's biggest test: No. 1 Nebraska.
"This is one of those games where if you go out and execute and win, it will put Notre Dame back where it's supposed to be," said Battle.
Normally, it would be a no-lose proposition since his team isn't expected to win. Then again, it is Notre Dame and many people have called for his ouster.
How quickly it is forgotten that a celebration penalty cost the Irish a win at Michigan last year and time mismanagement cost them against Purdue the following week.
But there is a reason why Nebraska is No. 1. Starting with last January's Tostitos Fiesta Bowl and continuing Saturday against San Jose State, the Big Red look like they have returned to the trademark power running game that won two national championships. Unless you are Regis Philbin or wearing gold on Saturday, you know the Cornhuskers won't be stopped this week either with an Irish defense that lacks a stud lineman.
Then again, there is a reason behind Touchdown Jesus' mystique.
It's TOO-ee-ah-so-SO-po
Last year, everyone was trying to figure out where Blacksburg was and what a Hokie is.
This year, it will be trying to spell and pronounce the name of Washington quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo. It is "TOO-ee-ah-so-SO-po."
The senior quarterback and son of former NFL defensive lineman Manu will go into the eye of a Hurricane this weekend in Seattle. Miami's defense loves to swarm the ball and attack, but it will have to be somewhat cautious against Tuiasosopo, who torched Idaho over the weekend for more than 300 all-purpose yards.
It will be a name you will hear much about this week and the rest of the season.
Time's up for Brown
For eight months, Austin has been waiting for Mack Brown to make his decision. He still hasn't made it, and a national title for Texas could hang in the balance.
|  | | The Longhorns need Major Applewhite's experience in the huddle. |
"We could draw straws and either could start," Brown said of quarterbacks Major Applewhite and Chris Simms. "We probably won't make a decision until game time. The team has handled it well, the two young men have handled it well. There's no need to make the decision now."
Yet, if Brown takes too long, problems could arise. Texas could start third-string Chance Mock this week against Louisiana-Lafayette and the Longhorns would win easily, but when Texas travels to Stanford next week, the stuff could hit the fan.
Brown says it hasn't been a distraction to the team. Those were the words Joe Paterno and the entire Penn State team used regarding Rashard Casey's arrest.
Let's hope it's not just coachspeak.
Vick's challenge
There's no need to talk about the skills of Michael Vick. But the Virginia Tech sophomore will get a serious challenge this Thursday night (ESPN, 8 p.m. ET) when the Hokies face East Carolina in Greenville, N.C.
Junior quarterback David Garrard has put up big numbers since his freshman year. Against Duke last week, Garrard was 22-for-29 for 264 yards and no interceptions. Va. Tech's defense is nowhere near what it was last season and Garrard is capable of exploiting weaknesses, as evidenced by his 27-23 victory over Miami last season.
Mike Diegnan is the editor of BCSfootball.com.
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Bob Davie knows his team has to play well next week.
Michael Vick storms 63 yards for the TD against Akron.