jones Top Ten - Week 8 - 2011

by Barking Carnival Staff on Oct 23, 2011 7:58 PM CDT in Texas Longhorns and Other Football

My mom didn’t cotton to bored children. If you ever said I’m bored, she would counter with a list of activities. If you didn’t chose one, then she would tell you that your boredom was your own fault. There is justice in this. But Saturday, she would have been hard-pressed.

Well, you could watch Oklahoma State/Missouri, or LSU/Auburn, or Texas A&M/Iowa State or Oregon/Colorado…

Still bored. And no mother in the world would argue with that. The whole first-half of the season has been boring. Oh, there have been some great games and some amazing individual performances and some high quality football played, but not a single defining moment and certainly not a signature upset. All chalk, as they say.

Until late on Saturday night, when all that happened was maybe the most spectacular ending I have ever seen, followed by one of the most stunning upsets. The college football season started. Nice to see you again.

Michigan State 37
Wisconsin 31

Dominant Wisconsin started 14-0. At that point, I assumed Ennui Saturday would continue. But defensive lapses and general special teams shenanigans put Wisky in a 23-14 hole. Michigan State played well, but right on cue, Dominant Wisconsin picked up where they left off with two more touchdowns to tie the game at 31. What happened next is about as believable as a Dan Jenkins novel, maybe even a Dan Brown novel. Kirk Cousins threw a 44-yard Hail Mary, arching it over one Badger defender and off the facemask of Spartan receiver B.J. Cunningham and into the arms of another, ersatz back-up quarterback Keith Nichol. Unfortunately, Nichol wasn’t actually in the end zone, which precipitated a Greco-Roman wrestling match between Nichol, half the Wisconsin defense and the American Federation of Cheese Manufacturers.

The refs on the field said Nichols didn’t make it. Two minutes later, the refs upstairs said he did. Hail Mary, full of grace. I thought back to the best thing I ever heard on a basketball court (and it was at my expense). Thinking I had a clear path to the basket, I had a shot blocked from behind, which resulted in this memorable taunt:

I’ll be takin’ the cheeeeeese off of yo burger.

Enjoy the cheese, Michigan State.

For pretty much all of Texas Tech’s history in the Big 12, you and ten of your buddies from the office could put on OU gear, invite the Red Raiders down to the park, put up a sign that said "Owen Field" and proceed to pistol whip them by four touchdowns. And this was against dangerous Mike Leach squads, much less the crew Tommy Tuberville puts on the field. But it didn’t take Tech long to put Oklahoma in a bad spot, jumping to a 24-7 lead behind the underrated Seth Doege and his buddy Alex Torres. The Raiders hung on to end a 39-game home winning streak. Texas Tech 41, Oklahoma 38.

I can’t believe I typed that. The rest of the weekend was pretty boring, almost to the point I quit writing. Here’s a summary:

LSU and Alabama both punished second-tier SEC opponents. I found LSU’s 45-10 hammering of Auburn slightly more satisfying than Alabama’s 37-6 wipeout of Tennessee in much the same way I prefer the ribeye at Perry’s slightly more than the New York strip.

Oregon’s second-string skill position players got in some nice work against Colorado, posting the comical final of 45-2. Clemson (Oregon East with better tradition and worse corporate sponsorship) dropped 35 third-quarter points on UNC in a 59-38 win.

Clemson may not have a Clemson moment but, for the second week in a row, we still have Ron Zook. Illinois may start a Clemsonesque free fall after losing to the horrendous Purdue Boilermakers, the Big Ten’s worst team (my apologies to the Indiana Hoosiers).

Penn State, however, won a game I fully expected them to lose, beating Northwestern in Evanston, 34-24. The Nitts are bordering on good. I will see them in their home stadium next Saturday on a men’s college football pilgrimage. We had to get this one in before Joe Paterno, well…you know.

Oklahoma State and Missouri was supposed to be a good game. It wasn’t. State 45, Missouri 24. Likewise, Texas A&M took care of business on the road at Iowa State, 33-17. Arkansas almost didn’t; the Hogs came from 17 down at Ole Miss to finally win, 29-24.

Kansas State 59, Kansas 21 (I felt obligated to include it). Nebraska pummeled Minnesota; Miami embarrassed Georgia Tech, who may be fading as fast as Illinois, and Virginia Tech ripped Boston College, 30-14. Must I continue?

Notre Dame was flying under-the-radar after two early hard luck losses to South Florida and Michigan. However, now we can ignore them entirely after a 31-17 home loss to USC. It’s just like Charlie Weis is in charge again.

Washington got the upstart tag with a 5-1 record and a hot young QB named Keith Price, balanced by running back Chris Polk who shocked the Stanford Cardinal with two long first half touchdown runs. Intrigued? Yeah well, that was all before Stanford scored 65 points, mostly by running off-tackle. Steve Emtman has left the building.

Boise State was ordinary and will be punished for their ordinariness, and also Kellen Moore’s orthodonture. Broncos 37, Air Force 26.

Finally, remember West Virginia? You know, colorful people, John Denver sings about it? No sooner than I put them in my top ten, the Mountaineers sully up a perfectly sterile evening in the Carrier Dome. Syracuse goes to a shocking 5-2 with a 49-23 blowout.

And now, I am going to take a nap.

Impressive Showing of the Week: Texas Tech

1. LSU

2. Alabama

3. Oregon: Ask yourself, Can Oklahoma State beat Oregon with Cliff Harris, Darron Thomas and LaMichael James on the field? My answer is no.

4. Oklahoma State

5. Stanford

6. Clemson

7. Boise State

8. Michigan State and Kansas State: The "really?" slot.

10T. Oklahoma and Wisconsin: The penalty box slot.

Arkansas is AP #8, but I don’t have a lot of faith in them at the moment. Penn State is 7-1 with only a loss to Alabama.

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Comments

Miami embarrassed Georgia Tech, who may be fading as fast as Illinois

I’ve got a hunch that they’re going to give Clemson a scare this weekend playing at home. Some anticipated the UNC game as Clemson’s Clemsony game this season, but I’ve been looking at this Georgia Tech game as the most likely. I just can’t take Wake Forest seriously despite their record as a threat to Clemson the following week.

I hope Clemson doesn’t slip up this year. I want to make sure there are enough unbeaten teams at the end of the year to keep a buffer between OU and the NC game. I’d also enjoy seeing a BCS buster season with several unbeatens and huge controversy about who should be in the championship. TT and Michigan State took some of the wind out of those sails, though I enjoyed TT doing so.

by Nunna Yo Bizness on Oct 23, 2011 8:41 PM CDT reply actions

Where is Perry’s?

by Jake Lonergan on Oct 23, 2011 8:54 PM CDT reply actions

The Big 12 may end up sending a 2 loss team to a BCS game. This is the time of year where some of the young so-so teams grow up and get some traction, beat a few of the favorites.

by 55f100tx on Oct 23, 2011 9:22 PM CDT reply actions

The unlikelihood of Tech winning on the road at Norman reminds me of why Kansas’ visit this week makes me nervous. How many times have you read bloggers saying that Kansas is the only sure win left on Texas’ schedule? Teams with true freshmen QBs rarely have sure wins.

by Cirque du Salado on Oct 23, 2011 9:42 PM CDT reply actions

Alex Torres, AT, “Awesome Testicle?” Points if you know the exact movie I am altering/referencing.

by Toadvine on Oct 24, 2011 2:30 AM CDT reply actions

Jake —

The one in Austin is at 7th Street, downtown, off of Colorado. But it is a Houston joint from its beginnings, I think.

by jonestopten on Oct 24, 2011 5:31 AM CDT reply actions

Still Smokin’

Amsterdam!

by Cheech and Chong on Oct 24, 2011 8:39 AM CDT reply actions

And who doesn’t love Eddie Torres, the Extra Testicle?

by Cheech and Chong on Oct 24, 2011 8:40 AM CDT reply actions

Georgia Tech’s just slow. No other way to put it. Clemson will run rings around them. South Carolina has necessary parts on defense to stop Clemson, but they will have to score, too, and that’s a work in progress.

Boise gets the LSU/Bama loser, which increasingly looks like Bama. How is Bama a 6 point favorite in this game? LSU can score from 50 yards out, and Bama can’t. That has to be the difference in this game, right?

by G.O.F. on Oct 24, 2011 8:47 AM CDT reply actions

Give me Still Smokin’ and Clerks on VHS and it would be like 1995 all over again. Well, that plus a nice side of ditch-shwag and some all-night taqueria food to-go. Ah, high school — literally.

by Toadvine on Oct 24, 2011 9:10 AM CDT reply actions

Hey jake….
6 in houston area
1 austin
1 dallas
1san antone
they are known for their steaks but have killer itilian chow too…

http://www.perryssteakhouse.com/locations-menus

by jet on Oct 24, 2011 9:31 AM CDT reply actions

G.O.F, i would agree with you, but LSU probably won’t be scoring from 50 yards out when theyre facing mutants like Dre Kirkpatrick, Dee Milliner and Mark Barron. of course, i’ve been wrong before.

i like Bama at home. LSU functions on intimidation and violence as much as outright talent and scheme/technique. Trent Richardson and the other graybeards won’t be scared. great game, either way.

by Catfish Jackson on Oct 24, 2011 9:52 AM CDT reply actions

The LSU defense is simply terrifying. Is there a player on that side of the ball who will not be playing on Sundays (barring injury)? You can be nearly certain that LSU will be out-coached, and I’m not sure they will have much offense, but I think that defense is the single most dominating squad I have ever watched in college football. Ever. I like their chances.

by Toadvine on Oct 24, 2011 10:06 AM CDT reply actions

I agree about Georgia Tech, but the question is where in their remaining games is Clemson most likely to be Clemsony given that they haven’t had one of those games yet this year. With GT struggling lately I think Clemson might be looking past them to their home game against Wake Forest (this just sounds wrong) for the division title, and GT is at home and will be fired up to knock off the unbeaten team.

South Carolina is a big rivalry game and I think Clemson will be fired up for it.

by Nunna Yo Bizness on Oct 24, 2011 10:32 AM CDT reply actions

Nunna—

Clemson played the perfect Clemsony game at Maryland…and, of course, they won anyway.

It is possible that it is out of their system.

I don’t like Ga Tech’s chances at all.

South Carolina is a threat to anyone they play (and themselves, all at the same time).

by jonestopten on Oct 24, 2011 11:14 AM CDT reply actions

Rib eye over the New York Strip? There’s no accounting for taste I suppose.

Its always fun to watch big game Bob lose a game. I thought he was going to cry there at the end. I’ve heard people complain that DKR is dead, but man for a team contending for the MNC to be playing in front of a half empty house was stunning.

Someone may want to tell ol Bob he doesn’t have to spend time preparing for Texas after the State Fair is over. There really is no other explanation for their penchant for choking is there?

by roach on Oct 24, 2011 11:29 AM CDT reply actions

Hey Bob Stoops, you know your obsession with stopping the run has gone to far when you won’t let YOUR offense run it either.

by roach on Oct 24, 2011 12:01 PM CDT reply actions

I said “slightly preferred.” Love the ribeye and the NY—cook ’em both and eat ’em both.

A well-marbled ribeye just strikes me as a little more over-the-top indulgent.

by jonestopten on Oct 24, 2011 12:20 PM CDT reply actions

Rib eye over the New York Strip? There’s no accounting for taste I suppose.

Rib eye is generally (and personally in this case) considered a better cut than a stupid New York Strip. I kid, they are both delicious, though rib eye is a lot more tender naturally.

The rib eye steak is generally considered by foodies to be superior to the New York strip. This is because the rib eye comes from the cow’s rib area. Cuts from the rib area tend to be fattier and more tender than others on the body because of the lack of exercise this region of the cow experiences.

by e1kabong on Oct 24, 2011 12:44 PM CDT reply actions

MMmmm…Rib eye seared then slightly smoked with say…hickory/mesquite. drools

by e1kabong on Oct 24, 2011 12:46 PM CDT reply actions

Thanks Adam and jet. always looking for a good steak. Moved from Austin to Lake LBJ about 5 years ago, so this is one I haven’t tried. Maybe Saturday.

Sounds like it’s right down the street from The Brown Bar, where I used to hang out a lot.

by Jake Lonergan on Oct 24, 2011 1:53 PM CDT reply actions

What LSU can do to Bama that no one else can is force them to beat them with thier first year QB and then put intense pressure on him. Saban against Miles is a mismatch, but LSU is scary athletically on both sides of the ball and has a 5th year senior QB going for them.

It’ll be a helluva football game! It also wouldn’t surprise me to see a rematch in the BCS MNC game given that I don’t think Clemson, Stanford or OSU can win out.

Wouldn’t it be a hoot if Bill Snyder and his boys crashed the BCS party?

by Jake Lonergan on Oct 24, 2011 2:01 PM CDT reply actions

The pork “chop” at Perry’s while not as good as their steaks is damn good as well.

Thing that leaps out at me when you look at the Top 10 is LSU and Bama just look head and shoulders above everyone else on the defensive side of the ball.

Bama’s defensive numbers look like a freaking typo allowing only 180.5 yards and 6.9 points a game, but the only really good offense they have seen is Arkansas.

LSU’s numbers are higher, but how many other teams would have played UO and WVU at this point in the season and still average giving up 251.4 yards and 11.5 points a game.

I really don’t care who wins, but just want the game to match the hype.

by Davey O'Brien on Oct 24, 2011 2:17 PM CDT reply actions

I’ve heard people complain that DKR is dead, but man for a team contending for the MNC to be playing in front of a half empty house was stunning.

I doubt it was much worse than DKR would be with a 2-hour weather delay before kickoff and a game that stretched beyond midnight.

by srr50 on Oct 24, 2011 2:43 PM CDT reply actions

After a two hour rain delay and a 24-7 halftime deficit, there would have been only a few hundred people, all students, left in DKR. We played the #4 team in the country last week and a third of the fatcat west side seats were empty . I was sitting in my seats on the east side, so I don’t know how it looked, but that sucked.

by Jake Lonergan on Oct 24, 2011 6:23 PM CDT reply actions

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