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SEC Wrap Up Week 10


                      
 SEC Wrap Up Week 10
 
By Rafael Garcia
Sr. Contributing Writer
Southeast Region
 
Alabama 24 LSU 15
 
For Alabama the task was simple, win the game and win the West. They needed this win to keep pace with Florida and Texas for the BCS title. So as the teams took the field each coach knew they had to get the best game of the year from their teams. What they got was an entertaining game that now clears the picture in the SEC. LSU looked strong early and it looked like they would get the best in this one. With LSU playing the run, the Tide put the ball in the air 25 out of the 34 times they threw the football in first half, but could only muster a Leigh Tiffin 28-yard field goal. In the meantime the Tigers were up 7-3 with Quarterback Jordan Jefferson and running back Charles Scott leading the way. Then the two of them were hurt in the second half and the game changed. It was 10-9 Alabama after a safety when Stevan Ridley had an 8-yard scoring run to put LSU up 15-10 going into the fourth quarter. Then Alabama showed the form that has gotten them this far this year. Running back Mark Ingram ran for 106 of his 144 yards in the second half and receiver Julio Jones had his best game of the year. It was reported that one or more of the Tigers defensive backs had been talking smack to Jones all day. Well all of that was squashed when he broke LSU’s back on a 73-yard catch and run for a 21-15 lead his team would not relinquish. Another Tiffin field goal with 3:04 left ended the scoring. With the win the Tide clinched the West and will play Florida for the SEC championship on December 5 in Atlanta. Barring a breakdown before that, the winner in Atlanta should play for the BCS title.
 
Tennessee 56 Memphis 28
The one thing that has been a constant this year in Knoxville is coach Lane Kiffin. He has stirred the stuff on more than a few occasions and this week was no different when Memphis coach Tommy West supposedly said some kind of joke that involved Kiffin and a dog. After the game Kiffin shot back in true fashion saying the dog had bitten back. He did not make any friends in the game either as he had his Vols play with the intensity of a conference championship. They kicked an onside kick with a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and went for it a few times on fourth down in the first half. He would also call a timeout on a third down play when Memphis had the ball at their own 14. It was his way of sending a clear message to his team that they would be playing full throttles the rest of the season. Yes it was Memphis they were playing and the Tigers scored most of their points against back up players. It did not matter as Jonathan Crompton threw for a career best 331 yards, five touchdown passes and one rushing touchdown. It could have been worse but Kiffin pulled him in the third and then the defensive subs followed. It was a game that Kiffin hopes he can use to help recruiting in the Memphis area for the future. He has made many waves in his rookie season but he has also put a fire under these Vols. They are playing the brand of football that has not been seen in awhile here. They still have a few games left and if they can win out they stand a shot at bowl bids like the Outback and the Cotton. It’s still early up on Rocky Top but things are looking up for the future of Tennessee football.
 
Florida 27 Vanderbilt 3
One of the things I hate to hear is when they say a team got a moral victory in a loss. To me there is no such thing. So that takes us the Gainesville and the game between the Commodores and the Gators. It was never a contest but Vandy sacked AT&Tebow four times and limited him to just 27 yards rushing. He was efficient but Vanderbilt made him work harder than usual and Florida looked to have more questions than answers. They could not get into a flow and were confused with the different looks they were getting from the Vandy defense. Either way the Gators won their 19th straight game and is now on cruise control for their showdown versus Alabama for the SEC title. As for Vanderbilt, they showed again they have a top-flight defense but lack the offense and consistency to beat teams like Florida. Mistakes and stalled drives continue to be the flavor and they had to punt seven times. Mackenzi Adams started for the injured Larry Smith but could only get 100 yards passing and the offense managed just 199 total yards. That will not get it done in this league so Florida must now win out and use these next games as preparation for Alabama. If they play like they did on this day they will not beat the Tide and defend their national championship. Hold on cause now its SEC football at it’s best.
 

ACC Wrap Up Week 10




                                           ACC Wrap Up Week 10
 
By Rafael Garcia
Sr. Contributing Writer
Southeast Region
Assisted by William Queen Contributing Writer-Football Reporters Online
 
 
 
 
VIRGINIA TECH - 16 EAST CAROLINA - 3
Killing drives and calling back touchdowns, penalties and turnovers killed the Pirates in this one. Due to a solid performance by the East Carolina defense, the game was never out of reach. Yet, a touchdown called back because of holding and a fumbled ball going out the back of the end zone for a touchdown were a few of things that held East Carolina short. Despite their narrow escape, Virginia Tech running back ran for a career-high 179 yards, as quarterback Tyrod Taylor had 198 all-purpose yards on the night. Perhaps the most valuable player of the game was Virginia Tech’s kicker Matt Waldron. Waldron split three field goals through the uprights, tripling the points of the East Carolina offense. Offensively, the Pirates were just full of bad breaks; their only trip to the red-zone was called back because of a penalty. Quarterback Patrick Pinkney had a mere 169 yards passing with no scores and the whole team managed only 110 yards on the ground. But hey, with eight punts on the day, the punter got a good workout. From the Hokies stand point, by winning this game, they keep their top-25 stature in tact. With a relatively easy schedule left, all the Hokies can do is win-out and see what happens.
 
GEORGIA TECH - 30 WAKE FOREST - 27
This game was fluke-upset, if you will, by Wake Forest. Perhaps the third time that Wake Forest blew an upset this season, they’ve got to get better at closing games out if they want to make a bowl game. The Yellow Jackets got off lucky. Wake Forest quarterback Riley Skinner went 26 for 40, 263 yards, and two touchdowns, keeping it a close game throughout. However, the Deacons offense was one-dimensional and I’m not quite sure how Georgia Tech didn’t manage to stop them through the air. But either way, Georgia Tech matched it offensively, rushing for a grand total of 412 yards or four scores. The thing with Georgia Tech is that they’re perhaps the only team in the entire nation that can be one-dimensional offensively and still beat you. Now when you do run a one-dimensional offense and still manage to be the #7 team in the nation, then you pretty much know that you can move the ball. Back to the game and it was a fairly inconsistent one. Coming into the second quarter, the Yellow Jackets looked to have had a firm 10-0 lead. Yet, storming their way through, Wake Forest put up 17 answered points, leading by seven at the half. Georgia Tech ended up forcing the game into overtime; where the good teams are separated from the great teams. There, Josh Nesbitt ran for a 1-yard fourth down conversion and eventually ran it in for the game-winner. Closing in on the ACC title, all Georgia Tech has to do is win out and they’re in.  
 
CLEMSON - 40 FLORIDA STATE – 24
Say all you want about this game, but when it was all said and done, CJ Spiller won it for the Tigers. With 312 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns on the night, Spiller was a man among boys Saturday night in Clemson. And the amazing thing about his performance is that, more than half the time, he looked like he was just jogging around the field. On a different note, Clemson quarterback Kyle Parker has really stepped up his game lately having yet another good showing with 242 yards and four scores through the air. Yet, the whole offensive explosion out of Clemson could have just been the outcome of five Florida State turnovers. Either way, Clemson simply outplayed Florida State when it really mattered. Outscoring the Seminoles 19-0 in the 4th quarter, the Tigers merely wanted it more. Going 21-33, 262 yards, and one touchdown; outside his, drum roll please, four interceptions, Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder had a pretty good game. Seminoles running back Jermaine Thomas had 119 yards rushing, along with one score and a solid 4.6 YPC. In terms of the ACC title race, this game may have just pushed Florida State out of the picture. If they had one, then they’d win the tiebreaker over Clemson with a 3-3-conference record and currently be holding 1st place in the Atlantic division of the ACC. However, with Clemson’s win, the Tigers are sitting at 1st in the Atlantic division and Florida State is holding up the 3rd spot behind Boston College.
 
NORTH CAROLINA - 19 DUKE - 6
Scoring only six points, Duke’s offense came to a sudden halt this Saturday vs. UNC. Duke quarterback Thaddeus Lewis had thrown for 300+ yards in each of his last 4 games up until now. UNC running back Ryan Houston ran for 169 yards and caught for another 15, spurring the Tar heels offense past Duke.
 
MIAMI - 52 VIRGINIA – 17
At the end of the first half, Miami held a mere 7-point lead and this game looked to be a close one. However, with the help of stellar performances by both quarterback Jacory Harris and running back Graig Cooper, Miami out-scored Virginia 28-0 in the second half; ultimately leading them to a 52-17 beating.
 
NC STATE - 38 MARYLAND - 31
Though they turned the ball over 4 times, in the end, NC State somehow managed a victory. Wolf pack quarterback Russell Wilson threw for 343 yards and three touchdowns, as well as a score on the ground, surging State past Maryland for their first in-conference win of the season. 

FAT, ARROGANT, AND RUDE IS NO WAY TO GO THROUGH COACHING SIR



FAT, ARROGANT, AND RUDE IS NO WAY TO GO THROUGH COACHING SIR

John Kelly
Football Reporters Online
Senior Writer
Midwest/Northeast Correspondent

Charlie Weis, John Tenuta, and Corwin Brown have you seen your midterm grades? In 2009 I’ve seen them.
Mr. Brown, great cornerback recruits, making every Quarterback look like a Heisman winner, and tight ends, torching an experienced secondary. Including one that plays intramurals at Annapolis? One C, two D’s, and an F congratulations you’re at the top of the pledge class.
Mr. Tenuta, 115 yard versus Nevada, game saving interceptions, 600 yards versus USC, and 348 yards on the ground against Navy. One C and three F’s what a great example you’ve set amongst outstanding credentials.
Mr. Weis a 34-31 loss to Michigan, a 34-27 loss to USC, and being defeated by service academies two of the last three years. Your grade point average is 0.2.
Fat, Arrogant, and Rude is no way to handle your self amongst the best fans in the country.
As a coaching unit combined, the last three years your GPA is 0.0. I want to repeat this to all your other assistants what I am about to tell you right now.

You’re expelled!!! ‘
Dismissed!!!
I want you to vacate the campus at the end of December.
I have also informed other desperate teams that you’re all now eligible for alternate employment.
After clearing the stadium last Saturday Notre Dame Nation resembled Dean Wormer. No doubt if these men could be tied up in a room surely fans would recite the classic movie line over and over.

Notre Dame’s fan base has become Dean Wormer and Director Jack Swarbrick has become Robert Hoover. ND Nation wants their charter revoked while Jack Swarbrick can grant them one more semester.

These next 3 games are the final stand of the Weis’s tenure. The firing parade can be crashed with a convincing win over Pittsburgh. Weis’s staff is more than capable of pulling off a Delta Tal Ki and winning out with two ranked teams remaining.
Like the spirit of Delta, Weis knows he is capable of pulling this off. With Jimmy Clausen, Golden Tate, Michael Floyd, and excellent offensive play calling there is a fighting chance.
How could you count them out?

Will Golden Tate or Brian Smith deliver the famous John Blutoski speech? Or are Weis’s days finally numbered along with his sick coaching buddies?
We will know Saturday night.
It wasn’t over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor. It will be over if the Panthers bomb the Irish.

WE WIN LIKE A TEAM WE LOSE LIKE A TEAM The Story of the Notre Dame Student Section



WE WIN LIKE A TEAM WE LOSE LIKE A TEAM
The Story of the Notre Dame Student Section
John Kelly
Football Reporters Online
Senior Writer
Midwest/Northeast Correspondent

While browsing you tube for Flyers and Penguins clips over the years I came across an instructional video for Eagle fans. Any person who has experienced the nightmare of a Philly fan probably had a better chance guessing these guidelines then winning the lottery.
Let me guess…
Drunkenness? Check. Booing? Check. Fighting someone? Check. Yet, it was a certain saying in the video that left a distinct impression.
“Being an Eagle Fan is a 24/7 job and it’s a lifestyle.” “As a Philadelphia Eagle fan you are in that huddle with the team.” “When they celebrate that’s you in there.”
672 miles away Notre Dame’s student section is living proof. These future leaders of America come to the game jacked since 6 am the previous Sunday. The passion is there from every snap, on every touchdown, and at the conclusion of every game. They do not need to soil your garments in alcohol or spot you a pair of boxing mitts to prove it.
The student section conducts their own personal party during the game. They are the heart and foundation of Notre Dame stadium. Their vocal chords swell faster during a game then Ashlee Simpson after three songs. They boogie to Rakes of mallow and swirl their index fingers during each and every kickoff.
Whether it is knocking around beach balls, throwing fellow domers up for pushups, or chanting their displeasure for Pete Carroll running up the score, the emotion is unparallel.
If a holiday could exemplify their section it might one celebrated every May on the Bayou.
Now, most student sections would provide quicker rebuttals for these statements than a seasoned salesman. Hold the phone everyone.
I have seen numerous student sections on TV in my 23 years as a college football fan. From Happy Valley to Ann Arbor to the SEC the volume and passion are without a doubt present. However, during the down time they are just average hardcore fans taking a necessary breather.
At Notre Dame students like the rest of the country hate TV timeouts but find entertaining ways to pass the time.
This week I had the pleasure of seeing my sister in the house that Rockne built for the last time. She snuck me in the student section and immediately I felt at home.
While I always wanted to be a Notre Dame student and I will forever bleed Fordham colors. My sister fulfilled a childhood dream for me in 30 minutes.
On a heavily congested and decrepit wooden bench, filled with Notre Dame seniors, they made room for me. They introduced themselves without batting an eyelash.
Of course it was the day of all days to live out a childhood dream. The Irish football team might have stuffed memos in each student’s mailbox saying their minds were already in Pittsburgh and today was a horrible out of body experience. They probably were better suited stuffing envelopes than Navy’s fullback.
During an unheard of 23-21 loss there was anger and sadness amongst the students that followed. No matter how many chances the Irish offense squandered in the second half, the faith in a potential win stuck like glue. However, this time they selected a horrible time to come up short.
The clock struck zero and the Midshipmen alma mater could be heard amongst a silent 80,000. After fans filed out of the stadium quicker than grade school kids out of a classroom, there was the packed section of Irish students enraged, shocked, and devastated remaining in their seats.
No matter how much they wanted Charlie Weis to asphyxiate on a donut or Jack Swarbruck to get Urban Meyer on speed dial, they came together with the Irish players and swayed to the alma mater.
This game obviously does not mark the last time I will attend an Irish game with my sister. It was however the last one I could share with her as an ND student.
In an explainable loss I was honored to join shoulders of the best student fans in the country and sing the alma mater. Also, join them in cussing out fellow students that repeatedly chanted “Fire Charlie Weis!” Now, not to sound like Meryl Streep but I nearly cried.
Not for a 23-21 loss that hadn’t been witnessed since my parents were in grade school. But, that for once in my life I was living a boyhood dream as a Notre Dame student. While it was only for a second half football ill remember it forever.
And if that is my last game every in South Bend I couldn’t think of a better way to remember it.

TCU @ San Diego State- A View from the Stands

TCU @ San Diego State- A View from the Stands-
By Will Osgood For Football Reporters Online

You could say Saturday’s result when the Horned Frogs crushed the Aztecs was to be expected. That doesn’t make the loss any easier to swallow though for Aztec fans, or for that matter any less sweet for the boys from Texas.

What did surprise me from the stands at “The ‘Q” was seeing just how much bigger, stronger, and faster the young men from Texas were than the San Diego surfers. The overall talent level shown by TCU far surpasses that of any other Mountain West Conference team, in my opinion.

The people I watched the game with did not who TCU QB Andy Dalton was before the game. Afterwards, they were wondering if he is going to be drafted this year, and he’s only a junior.

Dalton was as accurate as any quarterback I’ve watched all year. He fired the ball around the yard with precision and touch. He made quick, smart reads and controlled the defense by keeping them off balance.
Plus, he showcased some wheels that haven’t been seen from a QB on that field since SDSU QB Kevin O’Connell two whole seasons ago. Dalton seems to have the size, smarts, and leadership ability to play himself into the top of the draft next season.
The entire TCU offensive line was gigantic, and outweighed the SDSU defensive front line quite easily. Despite their size, they were quicker and more athletic as well. Several times on screens or off tackle type runs you would see one of those big offensive tackles operating fluidly in space and making a key block to spring a long run the TCU Running Back.
And when Andy Dalton dropped back to pass, good night! He was never touched, or at least it seemed that way.
The Aztecs lone defensive prospect, linebacker Luke Laologi, was pretty much neutralized because of the great line play and a well-called game. The few times I spotted him, he was struggling to shed blockers, which is probably why he finished with only five tackles.
When the Aztecs possessed the ball, which is was rare, Jerry Hughes showed me a little something. No, he did not notch a sack in this contest, but he was firm against the run, showed good athleticism to be able to move around in space, and good recognition on a three-step drop to get his hands up and knock a pass down. Scouts will be just as, if not more impressed with those things than him dominating some poor tackle who had no chance anyway.
The other player I made sure to keep an eye on was SDSU Senior WR DeMarco Sampson who has come on very strong since Junior WR Vincent Brown left the lineup with an injury. Sampson showed he can run with TCU, and showed tremendous ball skills to come back to underthrown passes.
He did fumble once when he tried to make something happen. I’m not going to knock him too much for that though, given that his team needed a big play, and nobody else was going to make it happen.
All in all, despite the lopsided score, I saw some positive strides being made by Brady Hoke’s squad. But I was also very impressed with TCU. They are well-coached and have as much talent as any team, this side of the SEC or Big-12, plus a few others. In my opinion, they are worthy of not only a BCS Bowl, but should Texas slip, they seem to be a realistic contender for the National Championship Game. They are that good.
 

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