Keys to the Big Games
Week Six, Oct. 8
Oklahoma vs. Texas

By John Harris---college fotball ---

a. Wright or Wrong? – Ask NFL scouts who the best defensive tackle is in college football. You might get a few Jesse Mahelona responses. You might get Claude Wroten on a few ballots. You may even get some for Mahelona’s partner Justin Harrell. The name that you probably won’t hear is Texas’ Rodrique Wright. Some scouts have Wright as low as a sixth round pick, which is amazing considering that going into his junior season, he was considered to be one of the first ten picks. Before you backlash against that statement, tell me what he’s done lately. There are spots in games where he’s just absent. There were times when you forgot he was out on the field. At some point, #90 has to get back to the level that he was as a sophomore. Last season, he was banged up, especially with his ankle problems, but, regardless, offensive linemen aren’t having much trouble with Wright this season. That has to change in Dallas. Although Adrian Peterson is banged up (50/50 on whether he’ll play at this time, but if you’re a betting man or woman, you know he’ll play), the Oklahoma run blocking seems to have improved a bit each and every week. Now, granted, they’re not what they were last year, but they’re getting better every time they step on the field. Wright must set that improvement back a week or three. No matter what the game plan dictates, the Longhorn DT must find a way to either tie up two or three blockers or penetrate into the backfield, disrupting the running lane options for Peterson and/or Kejuan Jones. Maybe with a prodigious performance in this huge rivalry game, Wright can get back in the good graces of the NFL scouts. More importantly, he can clog the middle and dominate from guard to guard throughout the game.---college fotball ---
---college fotball ---
---college fotball ---

b. Seven Eleven – There are so many ways to interpret the heading. Seven Eleven is always open and that’s what Texas wants out of ‘Slash’ - Ramonce Taylor. Seven Eleven could mean seven (a touchdown) for number eleven (Taylor). Okay, so all artistic liberties aside, Taylor can play. He may not touch the ball as much as RB Jamaal Charles or QB Vince Young, but, oh boy, when he does, it’s electric. Ohio State game – the kickoff return? You know the one. Missouri game – quick screen that he turned into a flying TD? Wow. The thing about both of those back breaking plays was how explosive Taylor was when he got the ball in his hands. It took a little while on the kickoff return eight yards deep in the end zone against Ohio State, but when he turned the corner, there were Buckeyes grasping at air. In the Missouri game, when he came down with the catch, he hit another level of speed to blow past the Tiger D. So, how does the Oklahoma defense account for Taylor? Similar to the way USC uses Reggie Bush, Texas is now using Taylor, with a fewer I formation carries than Bush gets. But, the key this week against the OU defense is to try to motion Taylor out of a myriad of initial alignments to try to get a mismatch, in particular, on a linebacker. If he creates problems for the OU backers, the OU defensive staff has a decision – take out an OLB and put in a safety to help account for him or leave the OLB in to key on Young? Well, what would you do? Thought so. And, that’s why Taylor could have a tremendous game on Saturday.---college fotball ------college fotball ------college fotball ---
---college fotball ---
---college fotball ---
---college fotball ---

c. Double D – With OU sitting at 2 – 2, you tend to forget about certain aspects about this team. One of them is the fact that they’re only giving up 65.2 yards per game on the ground. Whoa, that’s pretty dadgum good. Well, they’ve got DT Dusty Dvoracek back and he’s a major reason why this OU run defense is as good as it is. Double D has always been disruptive against any running scheme. He has the quickness to penetrate into the backfield. He also can tie up blockers, all the while, creating a ‘bubble’ in the run blocking scheme, affecting the RBs decision process. When Texas’ running game comes on the field, they’re presenting a completing different dimension than what OU has seen this year. But, OU has taken some of the guess work out of stopping Texas in the past by letting Dvoracek and company be as aggressive as possible, letting the LB make plays on Young in the running game. Typically, the Sooners will slant hard to a determined side, which allows them to get penetration or allows them to shut down the seams that the Horn RB could exploit. But, against a talented and experienced Texas OL, Dvoracek will face a cohesive and physical line. However, that’s what feeds this guy and his hunger could help keep the Horns running game at bay.
---college fotball ---
---college fotball ---.
---college fotball ---

Conclusion – If you can’t see the “we’re going to let it all hang out” attitude coming out of Norman, then you’re blind, stupid or both. And, that’s very, very dangerous for burnt orange nation. OU doesn’t have the talent of past years, no question, but youngsters are gaining a little bit of confidence each week. But, that same attitude is what has put Texas at #2 in the country, mainly by following the lead of Young. However, what happens when it’s tight in the second half? Can Texas ‘afford’ to keep that c’est la vie attitude? Will Oklahoma stay in the game long enough to keep the pressure on Texas? To break the streak, Texas has to smash it to pieces. Can they dominate to that extent? Texas hasn’t gotten great production in Dallas from their receivers the last couple of years, but Billy Pittman, Brian Carter and Columbus killer Limas Sweed are an improvement over the last two years’ groups. TE David Thomas has been relatively quiet, but against the OU backers, he could have a solid 5 or 6 catch, 1 TD day. In the end, VY just makes one too many plays to break the OU hex. Texas – 31 vs. Oklahoma – 23---college fotball ---
---college fotball ---
---college fotball ---
---college fotball ---

Road to the Rose Bowl
The path to the national championship, Week 8

The road so far ... Sept 7 | Sept 14 | Sept 21 | Sept 28 | Oct 4 | Oct 11 | Oct 18
---college football---
By Richard Cirminiello---college football---

Week 7 Quality Wins: Texas, LSU and Alabama---college football---

Week 7 Crippling Losses: Texas Tech, Nebraska and Auburn---college football---

The Rationale:---college football---

1. Members of the ACC, Big Ten, Big XII, Pac 10 and SEC plus Notre Dame remain eligible for the Rose Bowl until they suffer their second loss. While not impossible, history shows that two-loss teams won’t finish as high as No. 2 in the BCS rankings. ---college football---

2. Members of the six remaining conferences—Big East, C-USA, Mountain West, MAC, Sun Belt and WAC—must remain flawless to keep their remote hopes for Pasadena alive. While the Big East winner does earn a BCS bowl berth, the level of competition within the league would prevent a one-loss team from playing in the title game.

The Unbeaten Contenders (6)---college football---

Texas (7-0) The ‘Horns are on a serious roll. Since upending Ohio State in week two, they’ve scored at least 42 points and won by more than three touchdowns in each game, capped by Saturday’s 52-17 throttling of then-No. 8 Texas Tech in Austin. Texas is getting contributions from everywhere, and as if its confidence couldn’t get any higher, the program jumped USC in this week’s BCS rankings, a move with extraordinary symbolic significance. ---college football---
Up Next: at Oklahoma State

USC (7-0) USC has slipped behind Texas in the BCS rankings, causing Trojan fans to bombard Los Angeles talk radio stations with angry calls and head coach Pete Carroll to privately do backflips. At No. 2, the Trojans are no less a favorite to be in Pasadena if they win out and Carroll gets an ideal motivational tool for an experienced team that, at times this fall, has looked bored and disinterested in the first half before storming back for a come-from-behind win. ---college football---
Up Next: Washington State

Virginia Tech (7-0) The second half of the season tanks that plagued the program from 2001-2003 appear to be a distant memory. The Hokies were unbeaten at the tail end of last year and began the second half of 2005 by swamping Maryland 28-9 in College Park. Boston College is a well-coached, veteran team that presents a challenge, however, not since the opener has any opponent come within two touchdowns of knocking off Tech.
Up Next: Boston College (Thurs.)---college football---

Georgia (7-0) With the Cocktail Party looming in Jacksonville, it’s looking increasingly likely that the straw that stirs the Dawg offense will not be in pads. QB D.J. Shockley sprained the MCL in his left knee in Saturday’s win over Arkansas, meaning Joe Tereshinski could get his first career start in one of the liveliest venues in all of college football. Provided the junior doesn’t implode, Georgia can still survive with its defense and running game until Shockley returns in November. ---college football---
Up Next: Florida ---college football---

Alabama (7-0) For just the second time its last 11 tries, ‘Bama defeated rival Tennessee in a Tuscaloosa thriller. The Tide has struggled mightily on offense since WR Tyrone Prothro broke his leg three weeks ago, however the team is finding ways to win behind the nation’s third-ranked scoring defense and sophomore K Jamie Christensen, who’s booted the game-winner in each of the last two weekends.
Up Next: Utah State ---college football---

UCLA (7-0) For the first time in more than a month, UCLA didn’t need to rally in the fourth quarter to keep its perfect record unblemished. The Bruins got six touchdown passes from Drew Olson and 242 all-purpose yards from RB Maurice Drew in a 51-28 rout of Oregon State that was lost its suspense early in the third. A tougher-than-expected challenge should be expected this week from Stanford, which has turned its season around after getting shocked by I-AA UC-Davis in September. ---college football---

No Margin for Error (8)

Miami (5-1) Hurricane Wilma forced the cancellation of last week’s game with Georgia Tech, which will be made up on Nov. 19. Even so, the ‘Canes received a little extra love from the BCS computers and were elevated to the top one-loss team when rankings were released. This weekend, Miami will be looking to avenge last year’s loss to Carolina, which ended a perfect season and began a rare second-half slide toward mediocrity.
Up Next: North Carolina---college football---

LSU (5-1) LSU hasn’t come close to playing its best football, yet is No. 8 in this week’s BCS rankings, and will be 7-1 when they square off with Alabama Nov. 12 in a crucial SEC West showdown. Even after defeating Auburn in overtime Saturday night, the Tigers slipped behind Miami in the rankings, and with lightweights North Texas and Appalachian State visiting for a fat paycheck and a beating, Penn State and Florida State, too, might leapfrog the Bengals in the coming weeks. ---college football---
Up Next: North Texas---college football---

Penn State (7-1) Coming off a last-second loss in Ann Arbor, Penn State could have been hung over Saturday night, but instead, hung a nine-under par on an Illinois team that didn’t know what struck them. Michael Robinson masterfully accounted for six touchdowns in the first half as the Lions made a loud statement that their lone loss of the season would be a rallying cry rather than a reason to hang their heads.
Up Next: Purdue---college football---

Florida State (6-1) As expected, Florida State coasted against Duke, and with Maryland and North Carolina State upcoming in Tallahassee, the ‘Noles should be 8-1, and entrenched in the Top 10 by the time the regular season concludes with trips to Clemson and Gainesville. QBs Drew Weatherford and Xavier Lee combined to go a sterling 34-of-49 for 376 yards and four touchdowns versus an underrated Blue Devil pass defense.
Up Next: Maryland---college football---

Oregon (7-1) The sobering news that a broken fibula had ended QB Kellen Clemens’ college career dampened Oregon’s 28-21 win over Arizona, its fourth straight since losing to USC. Clemens, whose 19 touchdown passes and 2,406 yards, had him on the cusp of Heisman contention, will be replaced by sophomore Dennis Dixon, who suffered a concussion Saturday, but has two weeks to clear the cobwebs before Cal visits Eugene on Nov. 5.
Up Next: Cal (Nov. 5)---college football---

Boston College (6-1) The first time the Eagles tried to pull a chair up to the ACC adult table, Florida State disposed of the league rookies in Chestnut Hill. Boston College gets a second chance to shake up the standings in this week’s Thursday night ESPN showcase at No. 3 Virginia Tech. Backup QB Matt Ryan rallied BC two weeks ago over Wake Forest, and although Tom O’Brien has yet to confirm it, indications are that the 6-5 sophomore will get the nod over incumbent Quinton Porter in Blacksburg.
Up Next: at Virginia Tech (Thurs.)---college football---

Wisconsin (7-1) It isn’t always a gem, but the Badgers just keep winning, and remain in a flat-footed tie in the Big Ten race with Penn State, a team they’ll visit in a little over a week. For the first time in a month, Wisconsin leaned on its defense for a victory, getting five turnovers and a pair of second-half interception returns for touchdowns to snuff out an upset bid from Purdue. ---college football---
Up Next: at Illinois---college football---

Texas Tech (6-1) The Red Raiders stepped into the spotlight Saturday afternoon with a chance to send shockwaves throughout the college football world, but instead, got Orange crushed by Texas in Austin. Tech proved to be out of its league against the ‘Horns, however, they’re still exceeding expectations after seven games, and with a strong finish, could play bowl game in January for the first time since 1994. ---college football---
Up Next: at Baylor ---college football---
The Coalition Programs (0)

None---college football---

Temple's Wallace is leaving
He says he'll finish up his eighth season as head football coach, then quit.

By Dan Gelston
Of The Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA | Bobby Wallace is leaving Temple in the same shape he found it. The Owls have one of the worst programs in college football.

In the wake of an 0-6 start this season, he's ready to let someone else try to bring Temple some respectability. - College Football -

After eight losing seasons where he never won more than four games and the program's future was always uncertain, Wallace said Monday he will leave at the end of the year when his contract expires.

''What we've been through, the transition we've been through, has taken a toll on me and my family,'' Wallace said. ''It hasn't been easy.'' - College Football -

No, it sure hasn't.

Wallace coached the Owls through one of their worst eras in a historically woeful program. Since Wallace took over in 1998, Temple was booted out of the Big East, switched home stadiums and is playing its first year as an independent before joining the Mid-American Conference as a full member in 2007.

The one constant has been the losing. Wallace has gone 19-66 since taking the job in 1998. Temple's last winning season came in 1990 and it hasn't played a bowl game since 1979.

''Losing will wear on you and we've lost a lot of games,'' Wallace said.

Even with three two-win seasons and a one-win season on his Temple resume, this one has truly been Wallace's toughest. The Owls have allowed more than 60 points three times already and lost by three points against Western Michigan, their best chance for a win this year.

The 11 opponents on Temple' schedule finished a combined 83-48 (.634) last year and eight of its opponents played in bowl games. - College Football -

It doesn't get any easier Saturday when the Owls play seventh-ranked Miami.

Wallace said he met with athletic director Bill Bradshaw last week to talk about his future. Wallace said he made the decision now to give Temple a jump start on finding a new coach.

''If I waited until the end of the season, it would be unethical for Bill to talk to anyone right now,'' Wallace said. - College Football -

Bradshaw said he would immediately start looking at candidates, but had no timetable for a hire.

Temple's uncertain status after being voted out of the Big East in 2001 didn't help Wallace in recruiting. The Owls were kicked out because they didn't meet minimum requirements for membership, most notably in attendance, facilities and fielding a competitive team.

''That was a strain on all of us,'' Wallace said. - College Football -

Temple tried to spruce up the program. The Owls built a state-of-the-art practice facility at their north campus that opened in 2001 and reached a deal with the Philadelphia Eagles to play all home games at Lincoln Financial Field.

Wallace and Bradshaw feel the pieces are in place for the new coach to build a winning MAC program. - College Football -

''It might be the most exceptional opportunity Temple's had to hire a football coach because of all the things that are in place that we haven't had,'' Bradshaw said.

Still, the Owls have no full conference affiliation for another two years. They are affiliate members of the Mid-American Conference in 2005 and 2006, slowly adding conference teams to the schedule until they are full football members in 2007.

Temple hasn't made a positive impression on its new league. The Owls have been outscored 297-63 and have lost five of their games by at least 25 points.

Wallace said he will take at least a year off and will probably not look to become a head coach elsewhere. - College Football -

Wallace led North Alabama to three Division II national championships in 10 seasons at the school in his only other head coaching job from 1988-97. But he never was able to match that success at Temple. The Owls never won more than four games in a season under Wallace, and were 3-26 over the last 21/2 years.

''I didn't know what I was getting into,'' Wallace said.

Copyright © 2005, The Morning Call

Top 5 story lines in college football this week

Five things to keep an eye on in college football this week:

Oklahoma vs. Texas: In the past five meetings, both teams were ranked in the top 25, with three meetings when both were top-5 teams. That's not the case this season as the 2-2 Sooners stumble into the annual showdown in Dallas.
The Sooners have won five in a row in the series by an average off 27 points per game. Oklahoma is down this year, but the Sooners would like nothing more than to knock the Longhorns out of the national championship picture. - - College Football - -

Rose Bowl: UCLA plays host to Cal in a big Pac-10 showdown. The Bruins are looking to go 5-0 for the first time since the 2001 season. Cal is unbeaten, too. The Bears are 5-0 for the first time since 1996, when Steve Mariucci was their coach, and can start 6-0 for the first time since 1950.

DeAngelo Williams: Don't forget about this Heisman Trophy candidate from Memphis. Williams has had three consecutive 200-plus yard games, including a 236-yard performance last week against UTEP. Williams can pad his stats this week against a Central Florida team that yields an average of 138 yards rushing per game. - - College Football - -

A Big Ten slugfest: The Penn State-Ohio State game features two of the top defenses in the country. Penn State is giving up just 16.6 points per game and will have supreme confidence after shutting down Laurence Maroney and the vaunted Minnesota running game. Ohio State is giving up 12.8 points per game and leads Division I-A in rushing defense (41 ypg). This is the game to watch if you're afootball purist. - - College Football - -

Scarlet Knights: Rutgers would be 4-0 if it hadn't blown a 20-point lead at Illinois in the season opener. As it is, the Scarlet Knights are 3-1 after beating Pitt. They play host to another big Big East game this week against West Virginia. If they find a way to beat the Mountaineers, they'll be a legitimate contender in the conference championship race. - - College Football - -

Copyright ©1997-2005 PG Publishing Co., Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Fake football star cheated investor, jury finds

James Fowler, who lied about playing in the Super Bowl and other claims, is found guilty of fraud.

A former Orange County man who cheated an investor out of $1.3 million by falsely listing NFL stars as directors on his sports-marketing firm was convicted Thursday on seven counts of fraud and wire fraud. - NFL Football -

A jury in Orlando's federal court took 11/2 hours to decide James Mikel Lee Fowler fleeced Randy Carlstrom, an Everett, Wash., businessman, by promising returns on his investments from 1996 to 2001.
Fowler, looking frail and in a wheelchair because of a bout with diabetes, falsely claimed to have played with the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XII and the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers in the 1970s. - NFL Football -

Fowler, whom authorities think is in his 50s, used the Dream Sports Foundation LLC and his fabricated ties to other NFL players to solicit prospective investors such as Carlstrom.

Among the famed National Football League veterans who testified against Fowler were Hall of Fame running backs Tony Dorsett and Leroy Kelly. Dorsett, the 1976 Heisman Trophy winner, played for the Cowboys, and Kelly was Jim Brown's successor with the Cleveland Browns in the 1960s.

Other NFL standouts who took the stand this week were former Browns back Greg Pruitt, who finished his career with the Los Angeles Raiders in 1984, and ex-Minnesota Vikings linebacker Matt Blair.

The four said they met Fowler in the mid-1990s at celebrity golf tournaments in Orlando. Shortly after that, Fowler produced an infomercial with the players, promising that it would air on national TV. Like other ventures by Fowler, it faltered. - NFL Football -

All testified that they never gave Fowler permission to list their names on his company or for other projects.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Hawkins, in closing statements, said Dream Sports had "turned into a victim's nightmare." - NFL Football -

Fowler faces at least five years in prison at his sentencing, which was set for Dec. 12.

© 2005 Orlando Sentinel Communications

Weis downplays rivalry with Michigan

DETROIT -- What Michigan-Notre Dame rivalry?

First-year Fighting Irish coach Charlie Weis was asked about the rivalry during his weekly teleconference Tuesday and this is how he replied: ''Not to downplay it, but it's no different for me this week than it was last week. - College Football -

''That's how I view it. Might be different emotions for the players who experience it, but I view it as going to Michigan Stadium and trying to win the game.''

Weis, the former offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots, graduated from Notre Dame with a bachelor's degree in speech and drama in 1978 but did not play for the Irish.

He said trying to win Saturday's game--building on last weekend's 42-21 victory at Pittbsburgh--was his only focus. - College Football -

''I have no emotions at all about Notre Dame versus Michigan, none,'' Weis said.

When the Fighting Irish travel to Michigan this weekend, Weiss has an opportunity to join some exclusive company. Not since Knute Rockne has an Irish coach won two road games to start his career. - College Football -

College football instant replay goes nationwide

By Ralph D. Russo

Associated Press

The Big Ten’s experiment was a big hit last season. Now instant replay is all the rage in college football. - College Football -

Nine more conferences and Notre Dame will join the Big Ten in using video to review certain officials’ calls in 2005, and it will be used in all 28 bowl games.

Replay drew such positive reviews from the Big Ten, the NCAA gave all Division I-A conferences permission to give it a try in 2005 – and just about all of them jumped on board. The Atlantic Coast Conference, Big East, Big 12, Conference USA, Mid-American Conference, Mountain West Conference, Pac-10, and Southeastern Conference have all implemented an instant replay system at least similar to the Big Ten’s. - College Football -

And they all sought out Big Ten coordinator of officials David Parry and his staff, looking for advice.

“We’re proud and happy about what we got off the ground in 2004,” Parry said. “We’ve sent out a lot of mailings and we’ve been to a lot of meetings.”

Only the Sun Belt and Western Athletic Conference are not using replay this season, but both are taking steps to do it next year. - College Football -

Under the Big Ten’s system, a technical adviser in the press box notifies officials on the field via pager if a play needs to be reviewed. Using video from the TV feed, the adviser reviews the questionable call.

“Indisputable video evidence” is needed to overturn a call. Scoring plays, pass plays and number of players on the field are reviewable, but the majority of penalties, such as holding, pass interference and offsides are not. - College Football -

Replay was used in 28 of the 57 games involving Big Ten teams last season, according to the conference’s stats. Forty-three calls were reviewed and 21 were overturned. Reviews took an average of 2 minutes and 39 seconds.

There were a few rough spots. The first weekend of the season, a Wisconsin game was delayed about five minutes to review the spot of a ball that changed by about a yard.

“We stopped for some plays that weren’t worthy of being looked at,” Parry said.

Officials were told to be more discriminant with reviews; Parry also advised officials to be more concise when announcing the results. - College Football -

“We didn’t want to get into elaborate detail, where the ref was talking too long,” he said.

In the NFL, use of instant replay has been debated for years. It was first implemented in 1986. In 1991, owners voted to get rid of replay, which was bringing games to a grinding halt with lengthy reviews.

Replay was revived in the NFL after the 1998 season, this time placing the onus on coaches to stop play for reviews. The coaches’ challenge has been in place since, but for the most part you won’t see it in the college game – much to the glee of college coaches.

“I like what we’re doing in college,” said South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier, who spent two years with the Washington Redskins. “It eliminates coaches worrying about do you challenge this one or that one. - College Football -

“We’ve got the technology now to get it right. I think it’s a smart move. You hate to lose a game because a referee missed the call, so if we can get it right, I think that’s what we should do.”

The Mountain West is the one conference letting coaches have a say on what gets reviewed.

The MWC’s replay system allows for one challenge for each coach per half. If the play is overturned, the coach gets a second challenge for that half – if not, a timeout is taken away. Coaches must have a timeout to challenge and cannot have more than two challenges per half.

“I think it’s going to be less intrusive, less visible element than people might think,” said MWC deputy commissioner Bret Gilliland, who added that the leagues coaches approved using the challenge. - College Football -

Otherwise, the MWC’s system is basically the same as the Big Ten’s.

In other conferences, coaches won’t be completely without recourse if a bad call goes against them.

“As I have told the coaches as I go around, they can encourage us by taking a time out and turning and staring at the replay booth, and that might prompt us a little bit into action to take it a little bit farther,” said Bobby Gaston, coordinator of officials in the SEC.

Conference USA decided to style its replay system after what the NFL does in the last two minutes of games. A technical adviser in the press box will decide which plays to review, but the referee will use an on-field monitor to review the play and make a decision.

The Big 12 will also use an on-field monitor to allow the referee to assist in the review when necessary.

A general concern about using replay is that it will lead to officials becoming passive, knowing a call can be overturned. - College Football -

Parry said he didn’t feel that was the case in the Big Ten last year, and Gaston has be on his officials to stay aggressive.

“I want them to continue officiating because we want as few stoppages as we can get,” Gaston said. “So we’re going to encourage them to see it, know it, and throw it.”

From Parry’s point of view, the greatest benefit of replay was the calming affect it had on the coaches, players and fans.

“They were not so fast to scream at refs of the field because they knew if a play was called wrong, it would get corrected upstairs,” Parry said. - College Football -

It also left officials feeling less stressed.

“They could leave the stadium Saturday night knowing the play was called correctly,” he said.