#Breaking, per (super) Wikipedia:
The 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season will be the 154th season of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at its highest level of competition, the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). The regular season will begin on August 26 and end on December 9. The postseason will begin on December 15, and, aside from any all-star games that are scheduled, end on January 8, 2024, with the College Football Playoff National Championship at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. This will be the tenth and final season of using the four team College Football Playoff (CFP) system, with the bracket being expanded to 12 teams for the 2024 season. ...The regular season will begin on Saturday, August 26(,) with seven games in Week 0.
- Aer Lingus College Football Classic (Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland): Navy vs. No. 13 Notre Dame
- FIU at Louisiana Tech
- Hawaii at Vanderbilt
- Ohio at San Diego State
- San Jose State at No. 6 USC
- UMass at New Mexico State
- UTEP at Jacksonville State
One hundred thirty-three teams are scheduled to compete for the national championship. Here is the preseason Associated Press poll:
- Georgia
- Michigan
- Ohio State
- Alabama
- Louisiana State
- Southern California
- Pennsylvania State
- Florida State
- Clemson
- Washington
- Texas
- Tennessee
- Notre Dame
- Utah
- Oregon
- Kansas State
- Texas Christian
- Oregon State
- Wisconsin
- Oklahoma
- North Carolina
- Mississippi
- Texas Agricultural and Mechanical
- Tulane
- Iowa
More Wikipedia:
The AP college football poll's origins go back to the 1930s. The news media began running their own polls of sports writers to determine, by popular opinion, the best college football teams in the country. One of the earliest such polls was conducted by the AP in November 1934. In 1935, AP sports editor Alan J. Gould declared a three-way tie for national champion in football between Minnesota, Princeton, and Southern Methodist. Minnesota fans protested and a number of Gould's colleagues led by Charles "Cy" Sherman suggested he create a poll of sports editors instead of only using his own list. The next year the weekly AP college football poll was born, and has run continuously from 1936.
Here's for whom I'm rooting in each of the conferences:
- North Texas, American Athletic Conference
- Louisville, Atlantic Coast Conference
- Purdue, Big Ten Conference
- Texas Christian, Big 12 Conference
- Western Kentucky, Conference United States of America
- Akron, Mid-American Conference
- Wyoming, Mountain West Conference
- UCLA, Pac-12 Conference
- Kentucky, Southeastern Conference
- James Madison, Sun Belt Conference
I hope WKU wins the national championship. Georgia won in 2022.
Chris Vannini in The Athletic ranks my Tops 45th in the country, immediately ahead of Washington State. Kentucky is No. 36; Louisville, 39, and Vanderbilt, 77.
ReplyDeleteThe University of Washington Huskies have the Unofficial College Football Championship. The next battle for the UCFC will take place on September 2, 2023, when the Huskies host Boise State in Seattle, Washington.
ReplyDeleteThis will be the last year I'm going to recognize the same conferences as the NCAA. Starting with the 2024-25 season, I'm resetting all conferences to the Classic conferences of the late 1980's, and I'll track those going forward. This will mean, for example, that I will have a 10-team SEC.
ReplyDeleteI will use the CBS rankings to rank all the teams. Whichever team in the Classic SEC has the highest CBS ranking at the end of the year will be the SEC Champion.
ReplyDeleteHere's your reminder that last year Tulane won the Cotton Bowl and Texas Christian won the Fiesta Bowl.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, here's what the Classic SEC looks like as the season begins:
ReplyDelete1. Georgia
4. LSU
5. Alabama
13. Tennessee
21. Ole Miss
28. Kentucky
38. Auburn
41. Florida
44. Mississippi St.
72. Vanderbilt
Here's the Southwest Conference:
ReplyDelete11. Texas
17. Texas Christian
23. Texas Tech
24. Texas A & M
30. Arkansas
35. Baylor
53. Southern Methodist
63. Houston
112. Rice
Here's the ACC:
ReplyDelete9. Clemson
20. N. Carolina
33. Maryland
40. N. Carolina St.
43. Duke
50. Wake Forest
74. Georgia Tech
89. Virginia
Here's the Big 8:
ReplyDelete16. Kansas St.
26. Oklahoma
46. Kansas
47. Oklahoma St.
49. Missouri
54. Nebraska
60. Iowa St.
85. Colorado
Here's the Big 10:
ReplyDelete2. Michigan
3. Ohio St.
19. Wisconsin
25. Iowa
36. Illinois
42. Minnesota
51. Purdue
58. Michigan St.
86. Indiana
98. Northwestern
And here's the Pac-10:
ReplyDelete6. USC
10. Washington
14. Oregon
18. Oregon St.
27. UCLA
59. Washington St.
61. California
62. Arizona
73. Arizona St.
97. Stanford
If all these rankings held, and we still had the traditional Bowl Games, the Big Five Bowl Games would look like this:
ReplyDeleteSugar: Georgia v. Ohio St.
Rose: Michigan v. USC
Orange: Kansas St. v. Alabama
Cotton: Texas v. Louisiana St.
Fiesta: Penn St. v. Florida St.
That sounds like a very entertaining New Year's.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, we have a halftime score from the clash of our two unbeaten/untied teams playing to see who is the top college team in the nation:
ReplyDeleteCarolina 12
Mid-State 7
At least until Navy and Notre Dame get going in Week 0 in 2023 (or something else happens in my house), I'm watching The All-American from 1953. That marching band looks terrific!
Mid-State coach Clipper Colton seems unshaken in the locker room, telling his quarterback, Nick Bonelli as portrayed by Tony Curtis, to continue doing what he's doing, "keep them off balance and wait for your breaks."
ReplyDeleteWhich I genuinely feel sounds like solid strategy.
But I part with Coach Colton on his next strategic choice--to not pass along the tragic news to his star that Bonelli's parents were killed in a bus wreck that morning, on their way to the game. "This one is one I'm going to win, and I can't win it without him. What difference doesn't an hour make? They're dead, aren't they?"
ReplyDeleteThirty seconds to go on the scoreboard, and the score remains 12-7, Carolina ...
ReplyDeleteBonelli rolls out, eschews the pass and streaks perhaps more than 50 yards down the sideline for the game-winning score!
ReplyDeleteMid-State is No. 1!
ReplyDeleteNow we have advanced in time, and we have a beautiful skyline shot of Chicago. I love Chicago!
ReplyDeleteStaggered by the loss of his parents and angry at Colton, Bonelli has withdrawn from Mid-State. He's seeking to enroll in Sheridan University in Chicago to study architecture. The All-American has quit college football!
ReplyDeleteOh, it turns out he originally planned to attend Sheridan out of high school and was already selected by the school to receive a scholarship to study architecture, but then he was selected as all-state quarterback. Bonelli decided to play football at Mid-State to quickly go pro and earn money for his parents.
ReplyDeleteThis movie is excellent.
Well, Sheridan admitted Bonelli, but things are off to a rough start. The rich academics at the fancy school are bullying the uncultured former athlete, and now he's in trouble with the dean for fighting.
ReplyDeleteThe dean's young secretary is fetching, clever and kind.
ReplyDeleteThe dean suggests Bonelli try harder to fit in with his college's traditions and community--that he might start by getting a haircut.
ReplyDeleteBonelli, however, is finding refuge in an off-campus bar.
ReplyDeleteThe server at the bar, from a poor farming family in the country, is sultry, ambitious and bold.
Now Bonelli is in a fight in the bar with a member of the college faculty who was disturbing the server.
ReplyDeleteThe bar is called "The Pewter Mug." It's off-limits to Sheridan students.
ReplyDeleteOK, I was wrong about the fella with whom Nick was fighting in the tavern. His name is Howard Carter, and he, too, is a Sheridan student. The server is Susie Ward. The secretary is Sharon Wallace.
ReplyDeleteNick and Howard have been given academic probation.
ReplyDeleteNick is recognized by some boys playing football in a Chicago sandlot near the Sheridan campus. He is invited to join their game, and he thrills to the innocent competition and spirit of the boys.
ReplyDeleteSharon happens by, and Nick takes a break from the game to share a park bench with her. She is delighted to see him enjoying the game, but Nick doubles down that he no longer enjoys football and has no plans to join the Sheridan team.
Now we find Nick on a Saturday afternoon trying to study in his room, only to be distracted by the roar of the crowd from the football game on campus--Sheridan U vs. its traditional rival, Vernon College. It turns out that Sharon's boss had given her two tickets to the game, and she mailed one to Nick in case he decided to come.
ReplyDeleteThe radio commentator for today's game is (real) Tom Harmon. "Old 98" tell us that it's late in the third quarter--it's 20-14 in favor of the visitors.
ReplyDeleteBonelli has decided to go to the game!
ReplyDeleteHe joins Sharon in the stands and immediately finds himself totally engrossed with the action. He's infuriated by mistakes made by the Sheridan quarterback, as Vernon holds on for a 20-14 victory.
ReplyDeleteWhat is Nick doing back at the bar! Oh, no, there's Susie!
ReplyDeleteOK, I've lost track of what all's gone on in the romantic back and forth, but where we are now is that Nick tried to make Howard jealous by taking Susie out for dinner but that now Susie has successfully convinced Nick to join the Sheridan football team!
ReplyDeleteIn his first practice, his teammates refuse to block for the star, whom the coach immediately installs at quarterback. The coach calls out the squad and says he will bench for the rest of the season anyone he sees failing to do his best.
ReplyDeleteNow we're back in Sheridan's hallowed Carter Stadium (apparently, Nick's romantic rival, Howard, comes from a rich family who donated the money for the facility). Tom Harmon tells us on the radio that visiting Swarthmore is favored by the oddsmakers to beat lowly Sheridan, which has a losing record on the season.
ReplyDeleteNick is on the bench to start the game, and he's complaining about the starting quarterback's playcalling to both his teammates and the coach.
ReplyDeleteLed by the kids from the sandlot game, the Carter Stadium faithful have erupted into a chant of, "WE! WANT! BONELLI! ... WE! WANT! BONELLI! ..."
ReplyDeleteThe coach relents and inserts Bonelli into his defensive secondary! On his first play, Bonelli intercepts the pass and returns it for a touchdown!
ReplyDeleteBut Howard misses the extra-point kick!
Now we're in the third quarter, and Sheridan still trails Swarthmore by one point. Sheridan is facing third-and-8, and Bonelli is now playing quarterback.
ReplyDelete"Here's where I get the touchdown to make up for that kick you missed!" Nick tells Howard in the huddle.
That is harsh.
Excuse me, it appears the opposing team is called "Dartmore," not "Swarthmore."
ReplyDeleteBonelli is sacked on third-and-8, and on fourth down his punt attempt is blocked. In both cases, a Dartmore defensive player overwhelmed Carter's poor block attempt. The coach substitutes for Carter, telling him that maybe a couple of weeks on the bench will help him reclaim his timing!
ReplyDeleteIt appears Dartmore will be able to simply run out the clock. Bonelli tells his defensive teammates to "tackle the ball," and, indeed, on first down, Sheridan forces a Dartmore turnover!
ReplyDeleteAND THERE GOES BONELLI! TOUCHDOWN!!!
ReplyDeleteNow we have a montage of highlights and newspaper clippings from a Sheridan winning streak. Per Sheridan’s student newspaper, The Minute Man:
ReplyDeleteSheridan U. Downs’
Eastern Tech 21 to 6
Nick Bonelli Scores 3 Times
SHERIDAN 35 - BLAIR 12
ReplyDeleteFans Thrilled
By Bonelli’s
Brilliant Play
Bonelli Sparks Team to Third Straight Win
Bonelli and Sheridan
ReplyDeleteBeat State
Easy 28 to 0 Victory
So we're going to pause the CFB53 action there to tune in to Navy-Notre Dame on Channel 6 in CFB23.
ReplyDeleteOh, this game is taking place in Dublin, and NBC is giving us a montage of classic highlights ... Flutie, the Cal marching band and so forth.
ReplyDeleteI like both of these teams and their uniforms. I guess I'll root for Navy, but I'll be happy as long as one of them wins.
ReplyDeleteThe NBC play-by-play guy today is Noah Eagle, who is the son of Ian. He is subbing for Jac Collinsworth, who is the son of Cris.
ReplyDeleteNotre Dame is No. 13 in the preseason AP poll; Navy is unranked.
ReplyDeleteOn the game's opening possession, Notre Dame picks up several first downs, including on a third-and-10 run and third-and-12 pass. The Fighting Irish go into the end zone on a dive run with 8:26 to play in the first quarter, and this appears to make the attending Irish in the Dublin stadium very happy. I say "appears" because I've muted the broadcast, which is my favorite way to watch sports since becoming a husband and father over the last 20 years. No offense, Noah.
ReplyDeleteNotre Dame 7
Navy 0
Halftime in Dublin:
ReplyDeleteIrish 28
Midshipmen 0
Well, it's 42-3 in 2023, so I'm going back to hot Sheridan. Bonelli got his haircut!
ReplyDeleteFrank Gifford, by the way, is portraying one of the other Sheridan players.
Wow. Things have really gone sideways for Howard Carter. Not only has he been benched, now he's being kicked out of his fraternity-club thing because of his opposition to Nick Bonelli.
ReplyDeleteSHERIDAN DOWNS
ReplyDeleteCOLONIAL 24-17
BONELLI STARS
Sheridan in Sixth
ReplyDeleteStraight Win
Swamps Jefferson U. 40 to 7
IRISH SINK NAVY
ReplyDeleteIN DUBLIN 42 TO 3
Old Notre Dame
Marches On
to Week 0 Victory
Oh, no!
ReplyDeleteAccording to the Wikipedia plot description for this movie, here's what happens next: "A drunken Howard is tricked by Susie into proposing marriage. When she learns from Nick that Howard is trouble at the school, she angrily hits Nick with a bottle. He is arrested, disgraced and thrown off the team."
I actually watched that bit, but I kind of lost the thread on what was happening and why. But it ends with Sheridan's sweet coach showing genuine concern for Bonelli's wellbeing, even though his star's absence probably dooms his team's winning stream. "I've lost so many of them that one more doesn't even really matter," the coach tells Nick.
Bonelli is touched by his coach's concern and suggests to him that he play Carter in his place in today's game. Carter's father is in town for the game, and Bonelli says getting to play in front of his dad might turn things around for Howard.
ReplyDelete"Nick watches the next game from a bar. Susie has a guilty conscience, however, and explains what happened."
ReplyDeleteAgain, I'd be a little sketchy on what is happening why, so thank you to Wikipedia for the 411--and mad props to sultry Susie (portrayed by Mamie Van Doren).
Once more on the mike with Tom Harmon ... "Old 98" doesn't seem to have much hope for dear, old Sheridan today, given Bonelli's expulsion. Their opponent in Carter Stadium this afternoon? You guessed it: Mid-State!
ReplyDeleteMid-State takes a 6-0 lead. Sheridan's coach sends in Carter. Bonelli, listening in the bar, is gratified.
ReplyDeleteBased on Susie's appeal to the dean, Sheridan has reinstated Bonelli in time for him to play in the second half!
ReplyDeleteBonelli sprints around end toward and levels his old coach, Clipper Colton, as he is forced out of bounds on the Mid-State sideline. Then on his way back to the huddle, Howard Carter extends a handshake of reconciliation to Nick Bonelli.
ReplyDelete"I don't know what's going on down on the field," Harmon says on the radio, "but I hope it was worth it because it cost them five yards--for delay of game."
Well, it all works out. On the last play of the game, Nick Bonelli runs an option and, just as he is hit, tosses to Howard Carter, who runs for the game-winning score. Then it turns out at Nick and sweet Sharon are in love! Hooray! The end.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed that a great deal. This is shaping up as one of my favorite college-football seasons of all time.
I can't even imagine what all this looked like back at Mid-State. I would have been interested in a subplot about a local reporter who covers Mid-State and tries to get back at Bonelli for his decision to change schools.
ReplyDeleteWe've got thunderstorms all over the South today, which has wreaked havoc with sports fans. Vandy and Hawaii were supposed to kickoff at 6:30 C.D.T., but the game has been delayed due to lightning. Folks on Twitter are now reporting that the game will start at 8:11 C.D.T. (assuming no more lightning).
ReplyDeleteLast year, Vandy went to Honolulu and beat Hawaii 63-10.
ReplyDeleteThis is Hawaii's first game in Tennessee since October 28, 1972, when the Rainbow Warriors lost to Tennessee in Knoxville by a score of 34-2.
ReplyDeleteIn 120 seasons, Vandy's all-time record is 554-632-43. Since 1933, the year it joined the SEC, Vandy's all-time record is 349-579-26. During that same period, Vandy's all-time SEC record is 140-449-18. To put that in perspective, over the same period UK has gone 187-402-12 in the SEC. On the other hand, between 1933 and 1939 Sewanee went 0-36-0 in the SEC.
ReplyDeleteSince joining the SEC, Vandy's record in non-conference games is 209-130-8.
ReplyDeleteIn 51 seasons, Hawaii has an all-time record of 306-301-6. Hawaii's best team was in 2007, when the Rainbow Warriors went 12-0 in the regular season, earning a bid to the Sugar Bowl. Georgia beat them 41-10 in the Sugar Bowl, but Hawaii still finished at number 19 in the AP Poll.
ReplyDeleteBy contrast, Vandy has never played in the Sugar Bowl.
ReplyDeleteVanderbilt Stadium is under construction, so they have a temporary scoreboard that's being held up by cranes in one of the end zones.
ReplyDeleteThere's another temporary scoreboard in the same end zone, and it's not working right, so the kickoff has been delayed.
ReplyDeleteVandy's uniforms look pretty good -- gold helmets, black shirts with white numerals, and gold pants. The problem, of course, is that Villanova "V" on the helmet.
ReplyDeleteHawaii has white jerseys with dark green numerals, black pants, and white helmets with a dark green "H" on one side and a dark green map of Hawaii on the other. I really like the map.
ReplyDeleteHawaii goes three-and-out and Vandy responds with a short touchdown drive to go up 6-0. The conversion is unsuccessful.
ReplyDeleteRule change: the clock no longer stops when the offense makes a first down.
ReplyDeleteHawaii responds with a touchdown drive of its own. Unlike the Dores, they do not go for two. Instead, they take the usual one point, and now lead Vandy 7-6 with 7:13 left in the first quarter.
ReplyDeleteIt occurs to me that Vandy is certainly "Mid-State."
ReplyDeleteHawaii's quarterback is Brayden Schager, who attended Highland Park H.S. in Dallas Texas. He looks really good so far.
ReplyDeleteBut HOLD THE PHONE! Vanderbilt receives the kickoff, and Jayden McGowan (of Laurens, S.C.) returns the kick ALL THE WAY FOR A TOUCHDOWN. And this time the two-point conversion works! With 7 minutes left in the first quarter, Vandy leads 14-7.
ReplyDeleteI've watched Vandy football my whole life, and I don't think I've ever seen Vandy return a kickoff for a touchdown. ESPN tells us that this is the first time Vandy has done so since 2014.
ReplyDeleteAlso, is Vandy going to go for two on every touchdown this year, like the Heath Pirates did in 1981?
ReplyDeleteI go to a church with a fellow who has an 8-year-old he is encouraging to eventually become the punter/kicker for the Madisonville-North Hopkins Maroons.
DeleteVandy scores another touchdown, and this time they kick the extra point. Dores lead 21-7 with 14:56 left in the second quarter.
ReplyDeleteOn 4th and 4 from the Vandy 45, Hawaii goes for it -- and heaves a 45-yard touchdown pass. With 13:03 left in the half, Vandy leads 21-14. Brayden Schager, the Hawaii QB, is now 10-11 for 135 yards and 2 TD's.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I came across an article in the Hawaii press that referred to the team as the 'Bows. I really liked that.
ReplyDeleteOn Twitter, "Vandy Sixty Two," one of the best Vandy fan accounts, tweets out: "4th and 4 and you give up 45 yard passing TD. This is ridiculous." It's hard to argue with that.
ReplyDelete"Vandy Sixty Two" further tweets: "Hawaii QB has completed 91% of his throws. No pressure by DL and no speed on the secondary." Again, that all seems accurate to me.
ReplyDeleteOn their next possession, Vandy has 4th and 2 at the Hawaii 33, goes for it with a running play, and doesn't make it. That won't make "Vandy Sixty Two" feel any better. Dores still lead 21-14 with 8:50 left in the half, but with the 'Bows taking over on downs.
ReplyDelete"Vandy Sixty Two" tweets: "Just 39 rushing yards by Vanderbilt."
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, here comes Air Hawaii, looking like Kentucky in the old Tim Couch days.
ReplyDeleteNow "Vandy Sixty Two" is complaining that Vandy beat Hawaii 63-10 last year. But I don't remember Brayden Schager looking like Dan Fouts in that game.
ReplyDeleteOh, my! Hawaii quickly stormed down to Vandy's 1 yard line, and appeared to have scored. But on replay, they were given a 1st and goal at the 1. Then they appeared to have scored again, but there was a penalty. Then on 1st and goal from the 6, they appear to have thrown an interception in the end zone, thanks to a spectacular leaping catch by De'Rickey Wright, a safety from Gadsden City, Ala. Kids, take it from an old fan: Never throw a fade route on the goal line.
ReplyDeleteVandy takes over on the interception, but the Vandy offensive line is now being overwhelmed by the 'Bows defense. After two downs, Vandy is looking at 3d and 27 from its own 3. And soon after that, they punt.
ReplyDelete"Vandy Sixty Two" tweets: "What are you doing Coach Lea? This is embarassing!!!"
ReplyDeleteAfter wins over Kentucky and Florida toward the end of last season, the Lea family had to be thinking that this would be the year that they got an offer to leave Nashville for much bigger money at a state school. And when the Dores were up 21-7, they had to be feeling good about their chances. Now, however, doubts may be creeping in.
ReplyDelete"Vandy Sixty Two" tweets: "Derek Mason would have coached better tonight." OK, now he's overreached. That's just not true. If Derek Mason were coaching, Hawaii would probably be up 17-7.
ReplyDeleteVandy's QB is now getting sacked over and over. He gets sacked again, and that's the end of the first half. Vandy leads 21-14.
ReplyDeleteIn the first half, Hawaii had 202 total yards to 132 for Vandy. But the Dores had a kickoff return for touchdown and an interception in the end zone, and those two plays are the difference in the game.
ReplyDeleteVandy takes the kickoff. On third and six, they drop a pass that would have been a first down. On the punt, they appear to have the ball downed at the 1, but then a Vandy guy slides in and knocks the ball into the end zone for a touchback.
ReplyDeleteVandy leads 21-14 with 13 minutes left in the 3d quarter.
ReplyDeleteHawaii goes three and out, and Vandy takes the ball back with 11:42 left in the third.
ReplyDeleteESPN has a new graphic whereby the down and distance information switches to say "REDZONE" when a team enters the Red Zone. I will spend the next few years thinking that every switch is going to say "FLAG" instead of "REDZONE."
ReplyDeleteVandy made some adjustments at the half, and they march smartly down the field for a touchdown, after which they are called for unsportsmanlike conduct. I have no idea what they did. Anyway, they now lead 28-14 with 9:32 left in the 3d quarter.
ReplyDelete"Vandy Sixty Two" tweets: "If OL gets better we have a very good receiver unit to score a lot of points." That was followed by "These refs are something. I know they are from Hawaii's conference."
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that college football is back. I think I enjoy it more than any other sport.
ReplyDeleteNow here comes Hawaii. On 4th and 9 from the 50, they complete a pass for 16 yards and a first down. "Vandy Sixty Two" tweets: "We had 4 players in the secondary and they couldn't cover one receiver." That appears to be an accurate tweet.
ReplyDeleteVandy holds on downs and takes over with 2:45 left in the 3d quarter. Hawaii was in field goal range, I don't know why they didn't kick a field goal.
ReplyDeleteFrom its own 12, Vandy almost throws a Pick Six, but the Hawaii DB drops the ball.
ReplyDeleteVandy completes a long pass, but it's going to be called back because the QB crossed the line of scrimmage before he threw the ball. I think I last saw that penalty called in our back yard when I was about 12 years old.
ReplyDeleteVandy challenges this call, but they are going to lose the challenge. I knew he had crossed the line as soon as he threw the ball.
DeleteOh, my! The call is reversed! Apparently both the official on the field, and I, do not know the rule. Vandy gets a huge gain from its own 12 to the Hawaii 46. They celebrate by calling a double reverse, which gains 4 yards.
DeleteAnd Vandy takes advantage of the reversal. A few plays later, the Dores hit a 35-yd TD pass to go up 35-14 with 14:48 left in the game.
ReplyDelete"Vandy Sixty Two" says: "Heat and time change is really getting into Hawaii. Add the lack of depth on top of those they are really struggling."
ReplyDeleteTo be clear, I am in no way criticizing "Vandy Sixty Two," who I have always found to be a solid representative of the Vandy fandom. Like Slytherin House, Vanderbilt is a place for the ambitious, and being ambitious means holding yourself to high standards. Vanderbilt fans are usually good sports, but they like to win as much as everyone else in Middle Tennessee. And they hold themselves to high standards, which is why they stayed in the SEC even after Georgia Tech and Tulane had left.
ReplyDeleteI think I'm prepared to announce the top of my poll ballot coming out of Week 0:
Delete1. Western Kentucky
2. Notre Dame
3. Kentucky
4. Vanderbilt
OK, I stepped away for a bit. Vandy leads 35-21 with 6:16 left, but Hawaii has the ball at the Vandy 12.
ReplyDeleteNow Hawaii faces a 4th and 3 from the Vandy 10 with 5:05 left. Hawaii throws a little sideline pass, and the 'Bow receiver dashes into the end zone! It's all up for grabs now!
ReplyDelete"Vandy Sixty Two" tweets: "I am sorry but this is a 2 win team. Embarrassing performance tonight." I don't know if he means that Hawaii is a two-win team, and that Vandy should have won more easily, or if he means that Vandy is only going to win two games. Upon reflection, I think he means the latter. I'm not convinced of that yet, although I worry about what will happen to Vandy if their QB keeps getting sacked.
ReplyDeleteThe TD is reviewed, and the runner was down at the 1 yard line. Hawaii will have first and goal from there.
ReplyDeleteOn the next play, Hawaii bangs over, and the score is now 35-28 with 4:49 left.
ReplyDeleteWhen Vandy was up 35-14, I thought of making the point that Vandy was doing pretty well to hold Hawaii to only 14 points, but of course that talking point is now gone. Schager's numbers so far: 27-34 for 351 yards, 3 TD's, and 1 INT.
ReplyDeletePretty obvious that Vandy has to score (or run out the clock) on its next possession.
ReplyDeleteHawaii tries an onside kick, and they almost get it. Vandy never came close to catching it, but the ball was bouncing toward the sidelines, and it looks like the Hawaii player who scooped it up was partially out of bounds. Of course, we'll have another review. There are lengthy court cases that feature fewer reviews than this game.
ReplyDeleteOK, Vandy has the ball at its own 49, and the Dores are going to try to run out the clock. On first down, they try a handoff that loses three yards.
ReplyDeleteI have not yet hit "send" on my ballot.
DeleteOn second down, Vandy throws the ball out of bounds, but there's a flag. Yep, that's roughing the passer, and it wasn't close. First and 10 for the Dores with 3:59 left.
ReplyDeleteHawaii definitely has better players than Vandy, but they don't play with as much discipline.
ReplyDeleteOn first down from the Hawaii 40, Vandy runs for one yard. Hawaii is out of timeouts, so Vandy is running down the clock as much as it can.
ReplyDeleteOn second down, Vandy runs for another yard.
ReplyDeleteOn 3d and 8, Vandy tries a slant pattern, but the ball is thrown behind the receiver and is incomplete.
ReplyDeleteOn 4th and 8, Vandy is called for delay of game. Apparently they've given up, because they're going to punt.
ReplyDeleteFor the second time tonight, Vandy has a chance to down the ball inside the five, and for the second time, they botch it. Hawaii will take over at the 20. The only question now is whether Hawaii goes for 2 and the win, or takes Vandy to OT.
ReplyDeleteThere's 2:14 left.
ReplyDeleteOn first down, Hawaii runs a draw play that gets to the 25.
ReplyDeleteAnd on second down, HAWAII THROWS AN INTERCEPTION! For once, Vandy got a decent rush, and Schager threw it straight to De'Rickey Wright, who picks up his second interception of the game.
ReplyDeleteHURRAH!
DeleteVictory formation for the Dores. "Vandy Sixty Two" tweets: "De'Rickey Wright just bailed out the whole team and Coach Lea."
ReplyDeleteWell, Hawaii should have won this game by about 14 points, but they did not. Vandy wins 35-28, and Coach Lea's dream is still alive. ESPN points out that the Dores have won three of their last four games, which is true.
ReplyDeleteHooray for football!
ReplyDeleteIndeed.
ReplyDelete