Impressed/Depressed/Unmoved – Week 4 of the College Football Season

Alex Ferguson looks at Week 4 of the College Football season….IMPRESSED

Syracuse

`Big Orange’ put their football franchise back on the map with a 38-35 victory at Louisville. Andrew Robinson was the hero, throwing for 423 yards and four touchdowns, but the defense really pulled out the stops by causing four turnovers. Sure, they couldn’t defend Brian Brohm – but who can? And get this – they are co-leaders of Big East.

Georgia/Alabama

What is it about this Alabama football team? They’ve played in two of the best college football games of the season – or any season – in the last two weeks. Nick Saban has definitely got this team believing. And if they’d executed another victory, then `Bama would have been celebrating their second monster victory in a row. Howver, the Bulldog defence pulled it out when it mattered, and Matt Stafford made such it was Georgia fans who went home celebrating. Wow.

Ole Miss

The University of Mississippi gave their beleagured fans much to cheer about with a stirring performance against the Florida Gators. They couldn’t stop Tim Tebow, who run as though possessed for much of the game, but they managed to put the frighteners on the Gators’ defence and give LSU the biggest blueprint on how to unseat the National Champion. Sure, the 14 penalties helped to make this one close, but special Sportscolumn love must be given to walk-on QB Seth Adams, who had a 302 yard, 2 TD game in his team’s 30-24 defeat.

Texas Tech/Oklahoma State

Forget `Impressed’ and just call this Big 12 match-up a hell of a lot of fun. The fireworks on the pitch – which included nearly 100 points, and over 1,300 yards of offence showed that both sides will scare the crap out conference defences this year – even if their defenders will do very little. Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell can walk tall in defeat, though, after throwing for 646 yards and five touchdowns.

Kentucky

A year ago, we wouldn’t have given the Wildcats a prayer of beating the Razorbacks – especially coming back from a 20-14 deficit. This year, though, Andre Woodson has got his team on fire, and after beating Louisville, they must feel as though they can do anything. After a fine 42-29 victory, this team could well be 6-0 going into the home game with LSU.

LSU

The Tigers showed why they are one of the top- ranked teams in the nation, with a stifling performance in the equally stifling heat in Baton Rouge against South Carolina. Steve Spurrier’s team took an early lead, but then the Tigers shut them down. Florida must be slightly quaking now.

Southern Cal

After running the ball for most of the last week’s win over Nebraska, Pete Carroll showed why he isn’t a one-trick pony by then letting John David Booty throw for 279 yards and 4 touchdowns. Oh, and Chauncey Washington ran for 84 and a TD, too. Unbeatable? Perhaps not – but definitely title contenders.

Oklahoma

After a testing first half, the Sooners exploded in the second to waltz past Tulsa, scoring 62 points in the process. Sam Bradford IS the real deal – helped by a seriously good running attack of Allen Patrick and DeMarco Murray. Is the ghost of Adrian Peterson still there? Not with these guys about.

Michigan

I would be happy for the Michigan Wolverines if a) I didn’t hate them so much and b) Penn State had put up any kind of offensive attack. Saying that, Mike Hart’s performance was exceptional, running for over 100 yards on a dominating Penn State defense and Mario Manningham’s catches late in the game proved why Michigan may well be playing in the Rose Bowl this year. Although there were moments where a better spread offense attack would have scored 30 on their lackluster defence, but Ron `Jeremy’ English has definitely improved this side. Big Ten beware.

Ball State

In the old days, losing to Nebraska wasn’t a heartbreaker, but was a fact of life. This time, Ball State came into Lincoln and punished the Huskers all day long, outgaining them 610-552 in yardage and coming within a field goal of picking up the biggest scalps of the MAC school’s history.

UMMOVED

Iowa/Wisconsin

After 28 minutes of the worst offensive advertisement for Big Ten football ever played, the game exploded, with three scores in the last two minutes of the game, highlighted by a superb TD reception from Iowa wideout Derrell Johnson-Koulianos. Iowa’s speed on defence for the rest of the game was noticeable – as was the pace of Wisconsin backup RB L.J.Smith. The Badgers will be missing him when they go on the road. So why am I unmoved? If you had seen the first half, folks, you’d be hard pushed to stay awake! And a quick word about the Wisconsin fans? The best in the world.

Boston College

After a romp against Georgia Tech the week before, you would have thought the Eagles would be have been bringing the reserves by the third quarter. Unfortunately, two interceptions from Matt Ryan and another turnover made sure this wasn’t the case. Still, the Eagles are winning ugly – but don’t look invulnerable.

Arizona State

The Sun Devils are 4-0, back to being ranked and everyone’s giving new coach Dennis Erickson the plaudits. They are loving the strong backfield and Rudy Carpenter’s arm, and talking about a possible knock-off of USC. But who have they played again??

DEPRESSED

Penn State

If you see a more inept offense this year, then feel free to drop me an email. Seriously Lions fans – your offence was awful, lowlighted by two disastrous fumbles and the last four downs of the game, when the ball was thrown to just about nobody. I’m still feeling ill just thinking about it.

Florida

If they give away 14 penalties against the LSU Tigers, they’ll lose this one by quite a margin. The Tigers ARE going to stop Tim Tebow in his tracks, and Ole Miss managed a way to stop the most vaunted offense in football. Eking out a victory is one thing – but against Ole Miss? A bad sign o’ the times.

Nebraska

I mean, beating Ball State 41-40 in a game where you were comprehensively outshone offensively and should have lost isn’t exactly an achievement, is it? Sorry Bill Callahan, but your time is running out? Anyone else fancy a job in Lincoln?

Texas A&M

It wasn’t the fact that Miami were brilliant in trouncing the Aggies on Thursday night, it was the Aggies who were awful. 450 pound running back Javorski Lane didn’t have a lot of touches (which made him look increasingly sulky on the sidelines), and Stephen McGee might just be the most overrated quarterback in the Big XII.

Louisville/Notre Dame

It couldn’t get any worse, could it? While the Irish were busy losing 31-14 at home to Michigan State, Louisville were losing 38-35 to Syracuse. Are there any good points? Not many.

Appalachian State

One day you’re out there hammering Michigan, the next you’re losing to Wofford 42-31. Oh, how the mighty have fallen.