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| Monday, November 15 Where fans come to sound off ESPN.com |
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There was a lot to celebrate last Saturday if you are a college football fan. A few tears were probably shed as well. After all the action on the field, here's a little off it. It's never dull when The Fans Speak.
Talk at the top
Can people finally give the Hokies some respect? It wasn't pretty but they killed Miami. Something FSU nor Penn State could do. I hope all you non believers out there realize the Hokies are contenders.
Let's see... Penn State, Tennessee, K-State, and Miss St. all fold under the pressure. Who doesn't? Virginia Tech... Sugar Bowl bound. There should be alot less whining on this message board this week.
Every time the Hokies have a tough opponent, they blow them
out of the stadium. Watch out Dillard's "shoppers."
If Florida doesn't get a move on, their national championship hopes are over, but I have a feeling Spurrier has got a few tricks up his sleeve for FSU. If Florida beats FSU and wins the conference championship game on Dec 4, they will go to New Orleans.
It seems like everyone is complaining about Virginia Tech's weak schedule. Granted, it is not one of the more difficult schedules in the nation. However, neither is Florida State's schedule. Virginia Tech and Florida State have both played three teams: Clemson, Virginia, and Miami. Florida State beat those teams by a combined score of 83-45, Virginia Tech beat them 105-28. Why aren't more people complaining about Florida State's schedule?
Dayne's big day
RON DAYNE!!!
Overlooked in Ron Dayne's run for the record was the way
the Wisconsin coaching staff balanced the record with
respect for the game of football. Ron was held out of
numerous quarters to not show up the other team. If I am not
mistaken, Ricky Williams and Texas last year handled
themseleves just the opposite. The class and dignity that both Ron Dayne
and the Wisconsin coaching staff displayed in the chase for the
record deserves mention.
The most amazing fact about Dayne's run to the record books: He has set the record when every defense knows he is getting the ball due to the fact that the Wisconsin passing atack is not very strong.
Heisman hype
When Ron Dayne wins the Heisman, don't tell me it's based on this season's performance. He's had a great career, but this season his performance has been exceeded by that of Thomas Jones of Virginia. Not only does Jones have a higher average per game (and probably total yards after next week), Virginia has the toughest schedule in the country (according to the geniuses that figure that out). To top it off, Virginia has a pretty one-dimensional offense (despite Dan Ellis' 6 TD passes last week) and teams are always keying on Jones. If the Heisman is based on a single season's performance, Jones is your winner!
I always thought the Heisman was supposed to be an award for an individual season, not for a career. I admit that Ron Dayne's collegiate career has been duly impressive and that he needs to be recognized. But this season was not overly remarkable, especially early in the season. It is my opinion that no other player has as much impact for his team than Joe Hamilton at Georgia Tech. His seasonal numbers are again amazing, and this team would definitely not be in the Top 25 without him. Hamilton for Heisman!!!
In an era of "Hey, at least I didn't kill the president", Ron Dayne is truly one of the good guys. For four years he's done everything that's been asked of him and exceeded everything that's been expected of him. Unlike other Heisman "candidates" he isn't scoring meaningless touchdowns in fourth quarter blowouts against the likes of Buffalo. However, not even once did he whine when he was pulled out of games at halftime against overmatched opponents. Team first. He's a class act and ironically he is one of the few Americans who doesn't think he is the most deserving of the Heisman trophy. Ron Dayne makes me proud to be a Badger fan, he makes me proud to be a college football fan.
Problems with the polls
Is anybody willing to give praise to the comeback of Fighting Illini football, or is beating Ohio State at home by over 20 points not good enough. Well How about the Michigan vs Illini game, or how bout the Lousville vs. Illini game, or how bout the Iowa vs. Illini Game. We even shut down Penn State for three quarters. We're getting ready to go 7-4, go to a good bowl game, and we still stink? How about some time in the Top 25? Come on, open your eyes sportswriters of America.
How does Mississippi State drop to 15th after a semi-close loss to Alabama, while K-State gets blown out and remains in the top 10?
The voice of reason in the college football polls finally
has me stumped. Why did Virginia Tech only get one first place
vote in the Coaches Poll? The Hokies are playing the best football in the country right now on both sides of the ball (and including special teams)
Tech handled Virginia, Clemson and Miami easier than FSU did.
...So Why is Tech No. 2?
Why is Texas ranked ahead of Kansas State, and why is Southern Miss ranked ahead of Texas A&M?
Is it just me, or is everybody tired of watching Florida and seeing them skim by teams like Vandy and South Carolina, and still be ranked No. 3? Overrated.
I don't understand how a team like Texas A&M continues to find a spot in the top 25. They have beaten up on the lesser teams in college football but versus Nebraska and Oklahoma they were humiliated and also have a loss to Texas Tech. Yet Clemson,arguably a better team, with three losses to unbeaten teams and a fourth to highly ranked Georgia Tech has been unable to crack into the the top 25. Perhaps once Texas hammers the Aggies this unjustice will corrected and the Tigers can move into the top 25 which I think they truly deserve.
What is wrong with the people at the polls? Wyoming kicked the crap out of BYU and they still are unranked. They annihilated Utah last weekend and still get no props. C'mon isn't there anybody that watches football in the Rockies?
Saturday fallout
Finally the weakness of the Kansas State offense was exposed for all of the nation to see! All year they have lacked a consistent running game and have shown no ability to sustain long drives. K-State was able to win nine games because they have a great defense, a quality return man and have played, for the most part, weak competition. Every college football fan should be thanking Nebrasks for disposing of this weak pretender.
As an avid Razorback fan and one of the lucky spectators at Saturday's Tenn/Ark game, it was sweet irony that the Hogs beat the Vols by the same score as last year -- only reversed. It was a game where Stoerner redeemed himself for his fumble, and Martin helped fumble the Hogs to victory, which cost the Vols a shot at a second national championship game, as well as a SEC Championship. Revenge is sweet and this week Mississippi State will get a huge dose of reality as well.
Revenge is sweet!!! Doing it for Burlsworth! Go Hogs!
While Bob Davie may not be the cause of Notre Dame's problems, his three year tenure has proven that he is not the solution.
Conference call
Is Eastern Division dominance in the SEC gone? The so-called "Big Three"--Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia have all taken a fall at the hands of a Western Division opponent. The West is back! Hats off to the Crimson Tide of Alabama. They manhandled the only unbeaten team in the SEC...and without five defensive starters!
The Pac-10 has been catching a lot of grief this season, but, top to bottom, week after week, it is where you'll find the most exciting conference matchups in the country. Close scores, late comebacks, overtimes and a lot of talented freshmen and sophomores playing to win for smart, innovative coaches. The ascendance of former doormats like Oregon State and Stanford makes the Pac-10 anything but predictable, as are too many other conferences. The Pac also never shies away from big-time non-conference matchups. If football is about entertainment, the Pac-10 has got it.
School spirit
As soon as I heard the news, I couldn't believe it. I ran
straight to my closet, pulled out my "Scarlet Knight Football"
sweatshirt (complimentary from a season ticket purchase 10
years ago), turned it right-side out (it's usually worn the
other way to prevent embarrassment), and I put it on! OK,
it's only one victory in another dismal season, but I'll
wear that sweatshirt with pride...well, at least for this
week. "...Upstream, Red Team. Red Team, Upstream. Rah!
Rah! Rutgers, Rah!!!"
WAY TO GO PITT!!!!
Do I care about top 10 upsets and new rushing records? Not really. The Oregon State Beavers are going to a bowl game and that is the biggest news in the 1999 college football season. Christmas in Hawaii. What a way to usher in the Millenium with the "New Age" Beavers !
Finally, Auburn is playing up to their potential. We've been sidelined with freak injuries and fluke plays, but now we're hitting on all cylinders. Watch out, Bama... we're ready for the 20th! War Eagle!
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