Texas is blown out at home by the No. 1 team. Notre Dame is blown out at home by the No. 2 team. ND comes from 21 down against an unranked team and it was lucky. Texas comes back from 21 down against an unranked team and it was resilient. Texas and ND both have had close calls yet both have one loss. Why does Notre Dame keep getting passed up and some "journalists" are putting Texas in the National Championship game? Anti-ND'ers?
John (Canton, Ohio)
One thing you need to remember is that Texas lost at home against the top ranked team in the country while starting a freshman quarterback in week two of the season. The Longhorns were not blown out. The final score was 24-7 in favor of the Buckeyes but Ohio State scored their final touchdown with six minutes remaining and only led at halftime 14-7.
Notre Dame got beat at home in week three of the season by Michigan. They gave up 47 points and Michigan held the potent Irish offense to 245 total yards and four yards of rushing.
Notre Dame got blown away at home, Texas did not. Texas was resilient against the Red Raiders a few weeks ago when they were down by three touchdowns early to Texas Tech. Notre Dame has two late game wins against both Michigan State and UCLA. Perhaps their best win of the season with the opener against Georgia Tech (14-10).
I firmly believe that for all the anti-Notre Damers there are pro-Notre Damers. In the end they probably cancel each other out. Face it, Notre Dame is not your ordinary program. In general, the college football world falls into two categories in regards to the Irish, you love them or hate them.
In my opinion I thought Notre Dame was a little overrated coming into the season. I said it then and I believe that now. I think being rated somewhere between 9-12 in the nation is about right for Fighting Irish. With a month to go they still have a chance to creep up the rankings because the schedule is favorable with games against Air Force and Army. They should be 10-1 going into the season finale against the Trojans. If they can get by Southern Cal and with help from some other teams, they could make their way into the top five.
Notre Dame is one of many good teams and Charlie Weis has the Irish on the right path. I certainly believe Notre Dame is a program on the rise and will be a powerhouse year in and year out under this regime.
Please discuss Tennessee's receiver outlook for next year in light of (early) graduations and star recruit possibilities. What does that outlook do to Erik Ainge's senior campaign?
Chris (Birmingham, Alabama)
What an incredible turn around for this Tennessee offense. Almost every facet of this unit has shown great improvement. Quarterback Erik Ainge, the Tennessee wide receivers and Volunteer offensive line all have made huge strides. New Offensive Coordinator David Cutcliffe has made a huge impact for his old team. About the only struggle Tennessee has had offensively is their ground game.
Regardless, Ainge and the receivers have played huge and both are finally living up to expectations. For the wideouts though, most if not all the top performers, could be gone next season. Tennessee’s leading wide receiver is Robert Meachem. Meachem is a junior and he’s having an All-American type of year with 50 receptions for 989 yards and eight touchdowns. He could certainly decide to make himself eligible for the NFL draft. Jayson Swain and Bret Smith are seniors. Meachem, Swain and Smith are the three leading receivers for the Vols and they account for the bulk of the Tennessee passing game. This trio accounts for 112 of the 185 receptions this season. Only four other receivers have caught passes, sophomores Lucas Taylor, Josh Briscoe and Austin Rogers and freshman Quinton Hancock. Collectively they have 22 receptions and no touchdowns.
Meachem is the only possible starter that could decide to return because Swain and Smith are lost to graduation. The Tennessee staff loves the playmaking ability of Taylor and Briscoe has nice size. Those two and everyone else must step up next season. What would certainly help open up the Tennessee passing game is a resurgence by the Tennessee running game. You know all too well that Coach Phillip Fulmer, Cutcliffe and the entire Volunteer offensive staff will make a huge commitment to fixing their running woes in the off-season. They must to take some pressure of the young and inexperienced receiving corps.
Speaking of wide receivers that is a position of need for UT this recruiting season. Brett Vinson will re-sign with the Vols after failing to qualify. He could make a big splash in Knoxville right away. Todd Campbell, Anthony Anderson and Tyler Maples are all in-state receivers that have all committed to Tennessee. The Vols would also love to add Roderick Davis, James Kirkendoll or another big time receiver.
Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz
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I'm a long time Iowa Hawkeye fan (about 50 years) and I am concerned about the 6 and 4 record this year. Is this going to negatively effect the 2007 recruiting class or could it even make it better?
A. Neuberger (Hacienda Heights, California)
To me this is a disappointing season for Iowa. Coming into the year they were expected to contend for the Big 10 title. Now they are sitting at 6-4 with four conference losses and in seventh place in the current conference standings. This has to be maddening to the Iowa coaches and players, especially after losing to Indiana and Northwestern. It’s no shame to lose to Ohio State and Michigan but Iowa is at a point when they are not supposed to lose to the Hoosiers and Wildcats.
Now in their defense, they did lose a lot defensively last season, especially at linebacker and they have had their share of injuries. Quarterback Drew Tate is a senior and he was supposed to have a monster season. He has thrown for almost 1,800 yards, 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Honestly, it could be just one of those years. I don’t think it will have much effect on this Iowa recruiting class because I think most prospects know out there that this is a tremendous program that’s on the rise under one of the game’s top coaches in Kirk Ferentz. Proof is what they have already committed with some great prospects like linebackers Tyler Nielson and Kevin Rouse, defensive end Christian Ballard and defensive tackles Bryan Bulaga and Cody Hundertmark.
The Hawkeyes will close well and they will finish with one of the top classes in the Big 10 with Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State and Illinois.
Jamie, what is your assessment of Gerald Jones from the state of Oklahoma? If he were from Texas, California or Florida would he be rated higher?
Billy (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
I absolutely love this kid. I think he is one of the best offensive players in the country.
Jones, 6-1 and 190 pounds, from Oklahoma City (Ok.) Millwood High School. He is a quarterback in high school but projects as a running back or wide receiver at the next level. First of all, Jones is blessed to have good size and even better speed and quickness. He can start and stop on a dime and has a great change of direction. Jones has great hips and because of all these attributes he would make an excellent defensive back. But he is far too dangerous with the ball in his hands. Jones is terrific in space because of his ability to make people miss. He can run between the tackles and certainly has the speed to take it around the edge. Jones shows good vision and just has instincts for the game that you can not teach. He also has the uncanny ability to make the big play.
Overall, he is one of the top prospects from the Southwest/Midlands region who has great potential and upside.
I really believe he would be rated about where he is at regardless of the state he is from. Now, he may have gotten more publicity had he been from one of the bigger states. To me it doesn’t really matter.
He recently told scout.com that Texas Tech was his leader. He has a teammate already committed to the Red Raiders. Boy would he be a great weapon in that Mike Leach offense. Stay tuned.
The Heisman Race
All though the Heisman race is a forgone conclusion at this point I wanted to throw a new name in the hat. Sorry, it’s not James Davis, Mike Hart or Marshawn Lynch. It’s another quarterback, Hawaii’s Colt Brennan.
1)Troy Smith (QB) Ohio State
Smith is human? In Ohio State’s most mediocre performance of the year they escape Champaign with a win. Smith was 13/23 passing, 108 yards, one interception and he rushed the ball 11 times for 37 yards in a 17-10 victory over Illinois. For the season he is 158/237 passing for 2,006 yards, 22 touchdown passes and only three interceptions.
2) Brady Quinn (QB) Notre Dame
Quinn is quietly putting up very impressive numbers this season. He was 23/35 passing for 346 yards and four scores in a 45-26 victory over North Carolina. For the season he is 216/ 338 passing for 2,579 yards, 25 touchdown passes and only four interceptions.
3) Colt Brennan (QB) Hawaii
From a statistical standpoint Brennan has a chance to have the greatest season ever by a college quarterback. Through nine games he has completed 72.9% of his passes (248/340) for 3,347 yards, 39 touchdown passes and only six interceptions. Hawaii has four games left and at this pace Brennan will shatter many records.
4) Steve Slaton (RB) West Virginia
You can’t have Heisman like performances week in and week out. Slaton fumbled four times (losing two) against Louisville on Thursday night in the biggest game of the year for the Mountaineers on the national stage. He still rushed for 156 yards and one touchdown. For the season Slaton has 1,215 yards and 10 touchdowns. This is Slaton’s mulligan, all though no one else will catch Smith.
The Football Blitz Power Ratings
Top 20
1) Ohio State (10-0)
For all the naysayers out there Ohio State’s leads the nation in scoring defense (7.6 points per game). Next up, Northwestern.
2) Michigan (10-0)
The Wolverines got quite a scare against Ball State. They take on the Hoosiers on the road this weekend.
3) Louisville (8-0)
Once the Cardinals settled down they looked pretty darn good on offense and the defense caused turnovers. They play another big one Thursday at unbeaten Rutgers.
4) Texas (9-1)
Quarterback Colt McCoy continues to shine. Texas survived a stretch with wins against Nebraska, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State. Next up, at Kansas State.
5) Auburn (9-1)
The Tigers posted their second shutout of the season against Arkansas State. They take on the reeling Georgia Bulldogs this weekend.
6) Florida (8-1)
The Gators keep winning although it’s closer than Urban Meyer wants it to be. UF dismissed DT Marcus Thomas from the team. Florida hosts Steve Spurrier and South Carolina on Saturday.
7) Cal (8-1)
The Bears scored 38 points on a pretty good UCLA defense. They travel to Arizona this weekend.
8) USC (7-1)
The Trojans won big for the first time in weeks. On Saturday USC begins their tough stretch. First up, Oregon.
The Mountaineers will look to rebound this Saturday against Cincinnati before closing with Pittsburgh and Rutgers.
10) Notre Dame (8-1)
The Irish take care of business against the Tar Heels. Next up, a tough road game at Air Force.
11) Arkansas (8-1)
The Razorbacks stepped up big on the road against South Carolina. It doesn’t get any easier with Tennessee coming to town this weekend.
12) LSU (7-2)
The Tigers won a big game on the road in Knoxville. QB JaMarcus Russell came up huge. LSU hosts Alabama on Saturday.
13) Rutgers (8-0)
The Scarlet Knights take on Louisville Thursday night at home it’s what’s got to be the biggest game in school history.
14) Wisconsin (8-1)
The Badger defense held Penn State to 201 total yards. Wisconsin faces Iowa on the road Saturday.
15) Tennessee (7-2)
The Vols lost another close one at home. Can they beat the Razorbacks on the road this weekend?
16) Boise State (9-0)
Running back Ian Johnson has 1,300 yards rushing and 20 scores to lead the potent Boise State attack. They go on the road to take on San Jose State on Saturday.
17) Wake Forest (8-1)
If Rutgers is the biggest surprise this season the Demon Deacons are No. 2. Wake is doing it without their starters at quarterback, running back, tackle and other injuries which makes their ’06 season even more amazing. They won in impressive fashion against BC and take on FSU in Tallahassee this weekend.
18) Oklahoma (7-2)
For the second consecutive week the Sooners won another big game on the road. The defense will get tested this weekend at home against Texas Tech.
19) Georgia Tech (7-2)
The Yellow Jackets can wrap up the ACC Coastal Division with a victory over North Carolina in Chapel Hill this weekend.
20) Hawaii (7-2)
They lead the nation in scoring (47 pts/ game) and their defense is vastly improved. Their two losses came to Alabama (25-17) and Boise State (41-34) and they were both on the road. QB Colt Brennan has thrown for 3,347 yards, 39 touchdown passes and only six interceptions. Will the Warriors score 60+ for the third straight week on Saturday against visiting Louisiana Tech?
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