Countdown to Collegefootballfan.com’s Game # 500; Game No. 488

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Washington State flips Rutgers in a seesaw battle, 37-34

New Brunswick, NJ: The Birthplace of College Football – After 59 minutes of poor defense, costly penalties, turnovers, explosive special teams play, no pass rush by RU, and coaching wonders and blunders, Washington State QB Luke Falk tossed an eight-yard TD pass to WR River Cracraft with thirteen seconds left to play to take its first victory of 2015 back to Pullman, Washington, 37-34. Rutgers attempted a rugby-like comeback on the final kickoff that almost resulted in a safety before the final ball carrier flipped the ball forward for a penalty as no time remained on the clock. This non-conference game would be the most difficult for the Scarlet Knights to gauge how they will possibly withstand the upcoming Big Ten schedule that starts next week at Penn State. Many Rutgers faithful came away trying to determine if the Knights would have a shot at its tenth bowl game in eleven seasons. After this loss, few seemed optimistic.

The Birthplace

Facing the pass-happy Cougars coached by Mike “ I refuse to punt” Leach, who we’d seen coach previously with the same mantra during his tenure at Texas Tech, RU’s secondary decimated by scandalous crimes allowed Luke Falk’s’ first of four TD passes, this one to Dom Williams, for a seven-yard score to polish off a 75-yard opening drive. The Knights punted after their first possession and WAZU’s Kyrin Preister took it out of the end zone for a short return to the 13. What was he thinking? The Cougs drove down to the RU 12. Typical of Leach as seen in the past, he decided to forgo an attempt for three to extend his early lead, and RU stopped a sneak by Falk to take the ball back on downs.

Luke Falk (4) completes one of his many passes to Tavares Martin (12).

Luke Falk (4) completes one of his many passes to Tavares Martin (12).

In the second period Rutgers starting QB Chris Laviano came up limping and threw an INT to Marcellus Pippins who made a leaping over the head grab. Starting at The Scarlet Knights’ 34, the Cougars capitalized with a 46-yard FG by Erik Powell for a 10-0 State lead. Many RU fans anticipated a timely QB change by HC Kyle Flood to bringing in Hayden Rettig who had started well the week before against Norfolk State, but he stuck with his starter throughout the entire game. It paid off right away somewhat with a 37-yard FG by Kyle Federico. However, Falk (47 for 66, 478 yards, 4 TDs) continued connecting until his next drive stalled at RU’s 30. Leach’s head cleared again and Powell added another three instead of attempting to go five yards on a fourth down with 52 seconds left. But the Knights gave it a shot of their own as Laviano completed five consecutive passes to the WAZU 25. An illegal formation pushed them back five, and Federico booted a 48-yard FG to close out the first half scoring, 13-6, in favor of the visitors.

RU’s opening drive of the second half resulted in a fumble by Laviano who reached back to throw as it slipped out of his hand to have it recovered by DL Destiny Vaeao at his team’s 36. Falk threw his second TD of the day to RB Keith Harrington from the five extending State’s lead, 20-6. On Rutgers’ ensuing drive, Flood decided go for a first down on 4th and six at the 36, and it paid off with a 20-yard gain on a pass to Janarion Grant to the 16. RB Robert Martin (9 rushes for 61 yards, 1 TD) slithered his way through the Cougar defense for a 15-yard score. Washington State blocked the extra point to keep the margin at eight. RU pooch-kicked for some unknown reason, and the Cougs started from their 37. The drive died at the RU 32 on fourth and three when Falk’s pass attempt to Cracraft (8 catches for 121 yards, 1 TD) fell incomplete.   The Knights started their drive from that spot and ran the ball successfully to get to their one when time expired in the third.

Rutgers Josh Hicks (8) runs the sweep to the right for a gain.

Rutgers Josh Hicks (8) runs the sweep to the right for a gain.

On the first play of the final period, Laviano connected to the right side to TE Mike Flanagan (Mendham, NJ) to get within two. He followed up with a pass for the two-point conversion to WR Leonte Caroo (4 catches, 52 yards, 2 points) who came open late crossing the back of the end zone on the play. The score was deadlocked now, 20-20. State’s next drive resulted in a 37-yard FG by the strong-legged Powell. Note that on the drive, RU burned its third and final time-out. Two including the third seemed wasted. In any case, having no time outs would be critical in a close, high-scoring game. The Cougars three-point margin did not last long as Scarlet Knight returner Janarion Grant caught the kickoff in the end zone, started up the right sideline, cuts across the field, found blockers and a seam, and ran down the left sideline for a 100-yard TD return. The home crowd celebrated its first lead, 27-23. Plenty of time remained, however, with 12:30 remaining for both teams to continue to light up the scoreboard. The Cougars had three time-outs left to RU’s none.   State did not disappoint their small turn-out (I saw two in a liquor store by my house before the game) 3,000 miles from Pullman. Falk hit Gabe Marks (14 receptions, 146 yards, 1 TD) with an out pass for a 23-yard TD to go back in front, 30-27. Marks grab looked short of the goal line from where Frank Scarpa and I sat with his fellow RU alum, Phil, in section 108, but Marks’ foot hit the pylon and the TD stood. The ball did not look like it broke the plane of the end zone. State also kicked the ball short, and RU started from the 48. RB Josh Hicks (16 carries for 91 yards) caught the ball out of the backfield, but Peyton Pueller stripped the ball away and Isaac Dotson recovered at the 32. The Cougs drove to the RU 39, and on fourth and six, Mike Leach handed the Knights a gift as Falk’s pass fell incomplete to give the Knights the ball with great field position. One RU fan nearby said, “The Washington State coach is an imbecile.” We agreed. The teams exchanged punts – yes, with a 4th and six from his own 24 even Leach decided not to go for it. He might as well have though. Janarion Grant was on the receiving end and took it 55 yards for a 34-30 lead. With 1:31 remaining and two time-outs left for Washington State, everyone in High Point Solutions Stadium among the 45,536 fans still remaining knew that Rutgers had scored with too much time left on the clock. Falk went to work again with his short passing game eventually converting on a fourth and five at Rutgers’ 38 for a 12-yard pass to Robert Lewis to keep the drive alive before the game-winning score to Cracraft (8 catches for 121 yards, 1 TD). An exciting finish to a crazy game, but a resounding one for the die-hard Rutgers fans.

The Cougars' River Cracraft (21) in the open for a big gain against Rutgers.

The Cougars’ River Cracraft (21) in the open for a big gain against Rutgers.

Next week, Rutgers (1-1) travels to State College to take on the Nittany Lions (1-1) in their Big Ten opener. We will be there for the 8 pm kickoff. RU has this game circled since last season’s 13-10 loss in their Big Ten Debut. One hundred thousand PSU fans will be there to see that Penn State stays on course to improve upon its season after a loss to Temple and a 27-14 win over Buffalo last week. Against Temple, PSU used a short passing game that did not work against the tight coverage Temple gave them. The RU secondary struggles, but so does the offensive line of Penn State. It will be a matchup to determine whose weakness is worse, or who can make the adjustments to improve to right themselves for the balance of the season.

Extra points: RU fans though t this would be a win. Now they only consider Kansas (0-2) and Army (0-2) as their best bets for wins. Indiana is away and Maryland is at the far end of the season. Ohio State, Michigan State and Nebraska will visit Piscataway. PSU, Michigan, and Wisconsin loom as road games.

Frank Scarpa grilled us some great cheese steak sandwiches before the game, but fresh venison was delivered to the parking lot just in case.

Frank Scarpa grilled us some great cheese steak sandwiches before the game, but fresh venison was delivered to the parking lot just in case.

Steveo’s Salvos – September 11, 2015

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Please remember those in your prayers who passed away violently on this day in 2001 and their families.

Click on the arrow below to hear last Saturdays’ radio interview with Pete Spadora on “Spadora on Sports” on WNER 1430AM. It includes a little preview of the game we will be attending this Saturday when Washington State visits Rutgers at 3:30 pm EST for Game # 487.

 

Congratulations to LB Cole Farrand, son of George Farrand, a fellow classmate from Boonton (NJ) High school. A graduate of the University of Maryland, Cole signed as a free agent with then New York Giants and is assigned to the team’s practice squad. Cole achieved a most likely “first” during his college football career. In 2013, Cole tallied 23 tackles in the Terps game against Clemson and was named ACC Defensive Player of the Week. A year later, he wrapped up 19 times against the Indiana Hoosiers to be named The Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. There can’t be too many others who have garnered such an honor in two different major conferences. Good luck to him in his pro career. We hope to see him get into some action when he’s called on if he gets a chance later this season….

Maryland LB Cole Farrand is now a New York Giant.

Former Maryland LB Cole Farrand is now a New York Giant.

When the season opens, we like to see what FCS teams pull off the upsets over the big boys. One victim was the PAC 12 team we will see come east this weekend. The Washington State Cougars fell to FCS Portland State, 24-17.   QB Luke Falk competed 27 of 41 passes for 289 yards and two TDS in their losing cause. He will have a chance to increase those numbers against a Rutgers secondary decimated by players kicked out of school for criminal charges…Another team we will see play this season that fell to an FCS foe was Army who will be hosting our Game 500. They lost to Fordham, 37-35. Ram RB Chase Edmonds picked up where he left off last year rushing for 250 yards and three TDs. Our scouting reports say that Army QB Ahmad Bradshaw ran the triple option very well and throws a really nice pass. However, the Army defense needs a lot of improvement…South Dakota State knocked off the hapless Kansas Jayhawks, 41-38. The ‘hawks visit Rutgers in two weeks probably compliments of NJ native Charlie Weis who was let go as HC of KU after being bounced out of Notre Dame…Utah State who we will see play at Air Force later this season, edged Southern Utah, 12-9. This is somewhat of a shocker as the Aggies are expected to challenge for the Mountain West this season with the return of Chuckie Keeton to QB. He only threw for 110 yards against Thunderbirds. A late punt return for 88 yards gave the Aggies the win…

Chase Edmonds gallops 91 yards on a touchdown jaunt last season against New Hampshire.

Fordham’s Chase Edmonds gallops 91 yards on a touchdown jaunt last season against New Hampshire.

FCS North Dakota defeated Wyoming, 24-13. Most ironic about this game is that Cowboy HC Craig Bohl is in his second season at Laramie after leading North Dakota state to three consecutive FCS championships. However, the NDSU Bison, members of the Missouri Valley Conference, and the Fighting Sioux of the Big Sky Conference, have not been able to resume their 110-game series since they last met in 2003. That was Bohl’s first season as HC of the Bison. The Sioux knocked off the Bison in that game, 28-21. If Bohl was looking to even up his personal record with UND, it evidently backfired…Speaking of the four-time current defending FCS National Champ, North Dakota State, they fell in their first game of the season on August 29 to Montana, also a Big Sky member, 38-35. A week later, the upset by the Grizzlies was somewhat tarnished as they fell at home to Cal Poly, 20-19….Check out the FCS second week ratings. Twelve of the Top 25 teams have 0-1 records courtesy of the FBS including teams ranked Nos. 2-5. No. 1 Coastal Carolina topped Furman, 38-35. Maybe it shows that you should pick on people your own size. We still love going to FCS games though… Further breaking down the FCS, Historically Black Colleges (HBCs) aren’t what they used to be when it comes to being competitive in college football. Great pro players such as Walter Payton, Buck Buchanon, Steve McNair, and Jerry Rice played their collegiate ball at Jackson State, Grambling, Alcorn State, and Mississippi Valley State respectively. This past week, their four alma maters combined with six other HBCs – Alabama A&M, Bethune-Cookman, Howard, Morgan State, Norfolk, and Savannah – all opened against FBS competition. The combined scores of these ten games: FBS 615 – HBCs 77. Scouting and media exposure as well as the great talents among the black athletes they used to be able to recruit have escalated most up to the FBS level. Those gems previously “hidden” and competing for the HBCs are now playing among all the best of the FBS and other FCS teams…The two newest entries into the FCS opened their inaugural season last Saturday against one another. Kennesaw State (Georgia) defeated East Tennessee State (last season played was in 1999), 56-16, at Steve Spurrier Field at Kermit Tipton Stadium in Johnson City, Tennessee. KSU is a member of the Big South Conference, and ETSU will join the southern conference next season…The latest and only new team to join the FBS, the Charlotte 49ers, won its first FBS game ever with a 23-20 win over second year program Georgia State. GSU’s Panthers evidently played better than when we saw them lose big last year to another inaugural FBS team, Appalachian State, 44-0. We will add the 49ers as our 129th team on October 17 when they play at Old Dominion in Norfolk. The Monarchs won their opener defeating everyone’s favorite patsy Eastern Michigan, 38-34…

The Appy State O-line provided the push all day to total 469 rushing yards against Georgia State last season.

The Appy State O-line provided the push all day to total 469 rushing yards against Georgia State last season.

In D3, Mount Union started its season with a typically lopsided win over Bethany, 47-0. Juniata College, the alma mater, knocked off Grove City, 26-13. Wisconsin Whitewater, defending National Champ opens this weekend against a new program, Belhaven, in Jackson, Mississippi…Two years ago, Dave Headden and I started off our season seeing Norwich Academy play RPI in Troy, NY. A friend of my family’s, Jimmy LaBell, was playing LB for Norwich. Dave’s late father and older brothers all graduated from RPI. The RPI kicker for the Engineers, Andrew Franks, graduated this spring and will be the starting kicker for the Miami Dolphins this weekend. We can’t wait to see what he does at the highest level. D3football.com reported about his efforts during the current pre-season:” Franks was a perfect 3-for-3 on field goals, the longest at 51 yards, and 4-for-4 on extra points. He put eight of his 10 kickoffs in the end zone for touchbacks. Franks was a two-time first-team D3football.com All-America selection.” Fantasy football pick? This definitely has to be fantasy football for a Biomedical Engineering major from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute…Had we followed D3football.com’s proposed road trip to see four games during Week One, we would have seen some pretty good games: Coast Guard 34 – Anna Maria 6; Worcester Poly 31 – MIT 28; SUNY Maritime 30 – Maine Maritime 0; and Moravian 21 – King’s 17. Had we followed our own advice to change that third game, we’d have seen Cortland defeat the Heidelberg Student Princes, 26-24!…

Hail Juniata, Alma mater!

Hail Juniata, Alma mater!

Former Wisconsin Whitewater HC Lance Leipold with six national championships in D3 over the last nine years, coached his Buffalo Bulls to his first FBS victory impressively over FCS Albany, 51-14. This Saturday, the Bulls will play his first FBS competition ever when they go to Happy Valley to play Penn State…Of the 27 teams on our schedule this year, they started 17-9. Two games included the four teams we saw play one another, and Toledo’s game versus Stony Brook was cancelled due to severe weather…Navy’s QB Keenan Reynolds added one TD in pursuit on Montee Ball’s record of 500 career points in the Mids 48-10 rout of Colgate… Duke won handily over Tulane. Junior QB Thomas Sirk threw for 289 yards and two TDs for the win…Colorado lost its opener in Hawaii. Michigan fell to Utah in Jim Harbaugh’s debut. Michigan State defeated Western Michigan, 38-24 in a game between two teams we will see play later this year. MSU will visit Rutgers, and WMU will visit Toledo the night before we go to see Ohio State at Michigan.

Whether he's right or wrong, only HC Kyle Flood of Rutgers is the one with his job on the line.

We stay local to see RU face WAZU this week. Will Kyle Flood be running the team for the rest of this season?

Countdown to Collegefootballfan.com Game # 500; Game No. 487

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Tough Temple triumphs over Penn State to end drought started since WWII

The Owls charge on to the field led by QB P.J. Walker, No. 11.

The Owls charge on to the field led by QB P.J. Walker, No. 11.

Philadelphia (Sept. 5) – As a Penn State fan for many years, let me say this first of all: Temple has a very good football team this year and the players are well-coached. The Owls overcame a first half 10-0 deficit over a Nittany Lion team that had a lot to prove coming into this season with the sanctions they played under for the past three years, and they dominated the Nittany Lions the rest of the game for an outstanding 27-10 victory. Over the years since 1979, we saw PSU defeat the Owls seven times – a couple of close ones as a matter of fact. Their last win in this series occurred on October 18, 1941. We went to this game mostly interested in seeing how well the Lions had improved their Offensive line to protect QB Christian Hackenberg and to revive a strong Nittany Lion running game. We knew the Owls would provide a tough chore defensively, but we weren’t sure what they could muster offensively against PSU’s defensive strength. It seemed like we were seeing what was expected during the first period despite some early miscues by the Lions. But stunts by the Owl front seven and very tight pass coverage by a very skilled secondary gave Penn State more than we anticipated for the balance of the game. When a Penn State receiver was open, however, Hackenberg usually misfired, but more often than not, tight coverage did not allow him to throw to his prime receiver before he could release the ball. Temple sacked “Hack” like they invented the game “Hacky-sack”. They sacked him whether it was off a linebacker stunt through an open seam or with a two-man bull rush against the entire O-line. Despite knowing TU’s defense was strong coming in, on the other hand like many State fans, we wondered if there was any significant improvement up front on the O-Line at all. HC James Franklin and OL Coach Herb hand have some quick fixes to make for their upcoming games, and we’re not just talking about Big Ten games. Last season Hackenberg was sacked 44 times. In this first game, Temple took him down ten times already. We will be at home games against Rutgers and San Diego State in the coming weeks. We are eager to see what they are going to do in this short time frame after having worked on it during the entire off season. No doubt though that Temple’s D was good last year, and it’s even better this year.

The Owls swarmed the Lions defensively from the second period on.

The Owls swarmed the Lions defensively from the second period on.

PSU scored on its first drive starting from the 30 and culminating with a 34-yard FG by frosh PK Joey Julius, himself a big question mark literally and figuratively entering his first season and weighing in at 6’-1”, 261 lbs. On this drive, WR Geno Lewis had two passes slip right through his fingers. TU’s offense stalled after three plays again on its second possession and the Lions’ offense went back to work from their 25. At the TU 42, Akeel Lynch (10 carries for 78 yards, 1 TD) burst through a hole in the left side for a Nittany TD and a 10-0 lead. Maybe the Lions line had improved from what we saw on that particular play. The D looked dominant as anticipated well into the second period. TU showed no signs of overcoming them at this point. PSU’s Dan Pasquariello’s punt set Temple back on their seven yard line midway in the second. Former Elizabeth, NJ HS teammates, Temple QB P. J. Walker and RB Jahad Thomas combined for the 93 yards on the ground and through the air to get the Owls into the end zone on the ensuing drive. A fake handoff and a quick pitch out to Thomas around the left side put him in the end zone unscathed to put Temple within three, 10-7, with 2:25 remaining in the half. The score stood into half time.

The Lion defenders stopped Jahad Thomas early in the game...

The Lion defenders stopped Jahad Thomas (No. 5)  early in the game…

I kepyt my long-time PSU connection and die-hard alum John Massimilla closely informed by text about highlights through the first half as he attended a wedding in Atlanta this afternoon.   He asked me for my prediction for the second half as the wedding was about to start. I figured 24-7, PSU. The defense let up a score, but I had noted that players had been interchanged defensively through the half and that PSU would play the balance of the game with their first teamers that dominated TU‘s offense early. I also figured that Franklin would make some offensive adjustments and have Hackenberg finding some open receivers down field. My mind was picturing the wrong locker room at halftime. PSU did neither in the second half. Temple’s D was just warming up, and HC Matt Rhule and OC Marcus Satterfield saw some chinks in the Lion defense and would take advantage. On several critical situations in the second half, they used tight crossing patterns across the middle for big gains. Walker connected with Ventrell Bryant on one for 25 yards during the first half scoring drive.

PSU received the opening kick of Q3 out at the 35 when it was booted out of bounds. They netted only 19 yards before punting it away. Hackenberg terribly misfired on a third down passing attempt. All his passes seemed of the short out or over the middle variety. Rarely did he look long. You had to question the confidence the team had in their offensive front to give him adequate protection. Temple noted it, too.   Two series later, Temple’s PK Austin Jones sailed a 40-yard FG through the uprights. Temple was in this game to stay tied now at 10-10. Geno Lewis brought the kick out to the 35. A run for no gain, an incomplete pass, and a sack on a stunt by LB Tyler Matkevich (seven tackles including three sacks) forced another PSU punt. It was ruled a touchback, and PSU fans sitting with us up in section 235 right above the end zone were relieved as it looked to skip out at the one-foot line. We figured it was break. It didn’t matter for what was to come. After a completion of eight yards on an out pattern, Hackenberg threw toward the right sideline and DE Sharif Finch snagged it off his hip and ran it back to the PSU two after originally being ruled a touchdown. Following a defensive pass interference call in the end zone, Walker faked even me out from way above in my seat as his handoff went one way and he darted to his left untouched for a one-yard TD and a surprising 17-10 Owl lead. A minute remained in the third period.

Entering the final stanza, it was evident that the “great recruiter”, James Franklin, was being outcoached by former PSU Linebacker Matt Rhule. After another sack of hack by LB Nate Smith, Temple took over from its 49. At the PSU 24, Thomas (29 carries for 135 yards, two TDS) veered around the left end , stiff armed a would-be tackler, and continued to drift to the left pylon until he got into the end zone for an unexpected 24-10 Temple lead. Many Penn State fans had seen enough and headed to the exits. Their Lions didn’t seem to play with any sense of urgency. Lynch ran for four yards, Hack got sacked again, and Lynch caught a pass for a three-yard loss. They punted. What were the Lion coaches waiting for? They seemed to be throwing in the towel. Walker and Thomas teamed up again passing and running to set Jones up for a 30-yard FG attempt. With 5:41 left, Temple led 27-10. PSU played like it was already over. Three incompletions and a sack by DT Matt Ioanndis (Ringoes, NJ/ Hunterdon Central HS) on four consecutive plays sealed the game for TU. Temple had triumphed over PSU for the first time in 74 years during which they floundered with a 0-38-1 record. The way the Owls played on this day, it was well deserved. For PSU, it looks like it’s back to the drawing board, or more like the film room according to James Franklin during his post-game press conference. Maybe he and his team are spending a little too much time watching film together. Perhaps they should be out on the practice field some more where they should instill some more toughness amongst all this talent they are supposedly recruiting. I’d never seen a PSU team give up so early in a game before.

...but they didn't stop Thomas ( No. 5) later or often.

…but they didn’t stop Thomas ( No. 5) later or often.

Next week, TU has an important early American Athletic Conference East duel with Cincinnati (1-0), the favorite to win the division. The Owls will face QB Gunner Keil, the all-conference preseason QB selection. The Bearcats beat up on Alabama A&M in their opener, 52-10. That was like shooting fish in a barrel compared to what the Owls will bring with them defensively to Nippert Stadium. PSU heads home to hopefully friendly Happy Valley to host Buffalo of the Mid-American, 51-14 winners over FCS Albany last Saturday. HC Larry Leipold who now coaches the Bulls in his first season after leading D3 Wisconsin-Whitewater to six national championships in nine seasons may be bringing Bulls of different horns than what PSU was expecting when they booked this game. We will be heading to the Birthplace of College Football in New Brunswick, NJ to see Rutgers (1-0) with a depleted secondary facing pass-happy Washington state (0-1) who lost their opener to FCS Portland State, 24-17, despite 411 yards of total offense by the Cougars. The week after, we see RU visit PSU in their Big Ten openers. Lots of question marks abound for both programs between now and then.

Extra points: The parking situation at the Linc was the worst I’d ever experienced. We had tough experiences there in the past for Army-Navy, but this was totally out of hand as PSUers in particular hoarded multiple spots for all their gear and to hold for late arriving guests. That’s why up in State College, tailgaters are guided into parking spaces one-by-one where they eventually set everything up until the line is full and they are no longer blocking any traffic. It wasn’t the case here in Philly. After paying $20 and searching 45 minutes for no available spaces, I exited the lot and found free parking on the street in a safe neighborhood not far from Citizens Bank Park where I will suggest that we and our cohorts meet at this year’s Army-Navy game, our last regular season game this year. It was less than a mile walk from where we parked and after a vacation week of eating, drinking, and hanging on the beach, it was welcomed. We missed out on tailgating, but they were serving beer at The Linc for $9 each with vendors carrying trays up and down the stairs. It was worth a few bucks for St. Laurie and me.

P.J. Walker completed 15 of 20 passes for 143 yards among nine receivers. He was also tied for the lead in receiving yards with 25 as he hauled in an option pass from WR John Christopher for a big gain.

Attendance was announced at 69,176 for the largest Temple home crowd in its history. And surprisingly, the Temple fans weren’t outnumbered as expected. They had a pretty good showing. We’ll be interested to see how many will buy tickets for October 31 when they also host Notre Dame who won big over Texas this past weekend. I’m also hoping that the Owls can win the AAC East and that Navy will win the AAC West so the two will square off for the championship on December 5, the weekend before we’re back at the Linc of Army-Navy. That would be great!

I witnessed the most horrible half time activity ever created. Two TU students played “Cyber Soccer” on computers and they simulated kicking a soccer ball into a goal on the big screen. First of all, a soccer contest at a football game doesn’t belong. Secondly, they can’t get out on the field and kick field goals or do something physical? No one in the stands reacted at all in the after the final outcome. No one cared. Soccer and computer simulated games are two things I can definitely live without. Don’t bring them to a football game! Anyone can sit and play video games. Now we have to watch?

Countdown to Collegefootballfan.com Game # 500; Game No. 486

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Struggling Jacksonville struggles past struggling Delaware in our opener, 20-14

Let the season begin! Jacksonville returns the opening kickoff against Delaware.

Let the season begin! Jacksonville returns the opening kickoff against Delaware.

Newark, Delaware (Sept. 4) – In the opening game of the Collegefootballfan.com season, we watched two FCS teams struggle throughout the game to put together a sustained offense relying primarily on both punters to keep their opponents out of scoring position and their defenses and their own ineptitude to keep them just as far. Late long field goals by Brandon Behr and turnovers by both teams gave the Dolphins the final margin in their 20-14 victory. It was not a well-played, exciting game, but the final score was not settled until late in the final period. At game’s end, Delaware totaled only 163 yards in total offense. Jacksonville fared better with only 70 on the ground, but Dolphin QB Kade Bell threw for 269 yards through the air. However, after the initial drive of the game, his passes could not get the Dolphins anywhere near the end zone.

JU's Andy Jones hauls in a pass the Dolphin's opening drive.

JU’s Andy Jones hauls in a pass during the Dolphin’s opening drive.

The much more experienced Dolphins with 20 seniors and a penchant for revenge after falling to UD two seasons ago here clicked right away driving 85 yards on its first possession for a 22-yard scoring pass from Bell to WR Andy Jones (9 catches for 118 yards and 1 TD) for a quick 7-0 lead. With QB Junior Blake Rankin (transfer from Rutgers) and Junior RB Jalen Randolph starting, the Blue Hens failed to sustain any scoring drives midway through the second period.

Early in the second, a fumble by Delaware RB Wes Hills gave Jacksonville the ball at their own 13, but like UD, the Fins could not effectively move the ball. UD HC Stan Brock replaced his two prime starters with red-shirt Freshmen QB Joe Walker and RB Thomas Jefferson (Passaic Tech, NJ). The combo moved the ball to the JU 21. With 1:20 left in the half, Walker lateraled wide left to split end Diante Cherry who fired the ball into the end zone to Randolph who was back in the game to finally put the Hens on the board to tie the score going into half time.

Despite the return of 20 experienced players returning from Jacksonville, they struggled throughout executing their offensive game plan as much as did the Blue Hens with many freshman and redshirts playing in their first collegiate game of their careers. The Fins are hoping to get into this year’s playoffs as an at-large team as they are now not eligible to win the Pioneer Conference based on a self-imposed suspension. It turns out that as the only remaining non-scholarship conference with an automatic FCS bid, they found that 30 players had received Academic Freedom Scholarships, evidently very questionable for a team in a non-scholarship conference. Since punishment was self-imposed and accepted by the NCAA, they are still eligible for playoffs the “harder “way.

The UD Dance Team

Three members of the UD Dance Team

Neither team gained a first down on the first three possessions of the second half. When Jacksonville did, they gained 34 yards to get to UD’s 25. From there, Brandon Behr booted a 42-yard FG to give Jax the lead once again, 10-7. In the final period, Walker replaced Rankin again to get thing going, but the Hens still stalled out after a 39-yard run by Hills before being forced to punt after Walker was sacked by Malik Slater at his 39. Terrence Bryant returned the punt better than expected for a 34-yard run to UD’s 46. Bell could not get his team close enough once again, and Behr came in once again to settle for a 41-yarder through the uprights to lead, 13-7. Hills returned the ensuing kick to the 34 to seemingly provide some spark for the Blue Hens, but it fizzled resulting in another Eric Enderson punt (8 for 43.1 avg. and 2 inside the 20). It was still either team’s game to be won despite their struggles.

Jacksonville's QB Kade Bell scrambles out of Blue Hen pressure.

Jacksonville’s QB Kade Bell scrambles out of Blue Hen pressure.

Either way, either team would need a big play or two. Even with Jacksonville’s next series starting at the Delaware 48, they could not capitalize as UD DB Ray Torsza made a diving INT in front of Bell’s intended receiver going out at his own three-yard line. Despite his effort, with 2:47 left and two time-outs left for the Blue Hens, they immediately squandered the comeback opportunity. On second down, DL T.J. Jenkins sacked Walker knocking the ball loose in the end zone where LB Justin Horton recovered it for a touchdown. Behr’s conversion gave the Fins a 20-7 advantage with 2:09 to go. An unsportsmanlike penalty after the score forced Jacksonville back 15 on the following kickoff. Delaware’s Ray Jones returned it to the JU 46. On a second and eleven at the 32, Walker (combined with Rankin they completed 9 of 19 for 112 passing yards) connected with TE Ryley Angeline on a 31-yard pass to the one-yard line. Randolph took it on the next play with 1:20 remaining to cut the lead, 20-14. The ensuing onsides attempt was touched before going ten yards, and Jacksonville ran out the clock to prevail in the first game for both teams where the score stood.

It was a sloppy, ineffective and somewhat dull game as pointed out by my guest game analysts pictured below. Most of them are 2015 Delaware grads.

Our UD tailgate party (L to R): Emily (Bryant grad), yours truly, our niece Kassie, St. Laurie, Megan, Tucker, and Cassie also known at "Turtle." (photo by Josh)

Our UD tailgate party (L to R): Emily (Bryant grad), yours truly, our niece Kassie, St. Laurie, Megan, Tucker, and Cassie also known as “Turtle.” (photo by Josh)

Both teams will try to gain from the experience of their first game to move on and make adjustments for improvement. It’s probably the toughest learning experience for them and their coaching staffs. I always say that unlike the pros, the college teams don’t get the benefit of an exhibition season (thank the Lord) and have to develop from that first game experience. Happens every year. With that, the Hens host Lafayette (0-1) who fell hard to William and Mary, 34-7, in their opener. JU travels to D2 Newberry (1-0) (I found I was incorrect in my game preview. Pioneer teams now play three non-conference games each year. I assume the coast to coast nature of this conference puts a big strain on their travel budgets. Campuses range from New York to Florida to California to Iowa). We stayed over in Newark on our way back from a restful, fun, and needed vacation in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. It worked well for us before heading up to Philadelphia the next day where we would see Penn State play at Temple for our second game of Game 500 season.

Dolphin D holds Wes Hill to a short gain.

Dolphin D holds Wes Hill to a short gain and eventual fumble on this play.

Extra points: Despite the son of a former NFL and Florida Gator QB Kerwin ( also his HC), Kade Bell did not impress with his arm strength. He short-arms his passes. He gets the ball to his receivers, but they are mostly wide open. His stats from last year (3,181 yards and 31 TDs) are impressive, but his arm wasn’t.

JU Punter Ryan Giaratano outshone UD’s Ednerson this evening with seven punte averaging 47.6 yards ( one misplayed for 62 yards) but more effectively five finishing inside the 20.

Teams of the Colonial Athletic Conference, known as one of the toughest in the FCS, went 2-11 in their first weekend of play. Stony Brook did not play. Of the 11 losses, eight were to FBS teams. Top contenders Villanova and New Hampshire lost to UConn (20-15) and San Jose (43-13) respectively. Only James Madison and William and Mary won versus Morehead State and Lafayette respectively.

If UD HC Stan Brock does not see some significant improvement over the course of this season, if he’s not on the hot seat by then, he will be by next season. UD is not a program that can tolerate losing for long. Dave Nelson coached there from 1951-1965 to an 84-44-2 record. Legendary Harold “Tubby” Raymond had a 300-119-3 career record from 1965 to 2001. It included a D2 national championship in 1979 and many playoff bound seasons. His former LB on that championship team, K.C Keeler, took over in 2002 and led the Blue Hens to the FCS championship in 2003. That and an 86-52 mark over ten season weren’t good enough to keep him there. It’s been four years since the Blue Hens made the playoffs. The announced crowd of 17,472 had to include no-shows from what we saw. I’ve attended openers on weekday nights and playoff games on cold November days at Delaware Stadium where just about every seat was filled. The young alum who attended with me today couldn’t fathom that as they started school in 2010 after the last UD playoff team graduated. Despite being dedicated Frisbee Club team players, school is always memorable when you unite with the entire student body to root for your competitive football team.

Our niece Kassie graduated this past spring from UD and tailgated with us is now living and working in the area close to her alma mater. Her connection to the Delaware football program is truly memorable for her. She and one of her close friends were in a required freshman workshop and teamed arbitrarily with a third student to do a project. The other student was former UD tight end Nick Boyle (Sussex, High Point HS, NJ). Nick earned honors at Delaware as co-captain his senior year along with All-American Honors. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens and will be playing in the NFL this season.

Steveo’s Salvos! September 4, 2015

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Welcome to our Opening Weekend of the 2015 College football season! This evening we will be in Newark, Delaware to see the Fighting Blue Hens of Delaware (6-6 in 2014) host the Jacksonville Dolphins (9-2 in 2014). HC Stan Brock’s Delaware program looks to recapture prominence in the Colonial Athletic Conference with a young squad rebuilding with 15 sophomores and freshman in the starting lineup. His two QBs, red-shirt freshman Joe Walker and fourth-year junior Blake Rankin, will both debut for their first time at the college level. RBs Wes Hills and Jalen Randolph return as a top CAA rushing duo. Seven true freshman may see action on the UD defense. On the other side of the ball, the Dolphins, who forfeited five games a year ago due to some scholarship discrepancies they self-reported to withdraw from the 2014 FCS playoffs, return 20 experienced seniors. HC Kerwin Bell’s squad is led at QB by his son Kade who passed for 3,181 yards and 31 TDs a year ago. The Dolphins see this as a big game, their only non-conference contest, before battling this season for the Pioneer League title and an automatic bid to the FCS playoff. It will be a battle this evening to see if the Blue Hens can turn things around after four years since their last FCS playoff to challenge for a bid or if the Dolphins will jump start their season to make up for last year’s disappointment. Two years ago, we started off with the same match-up won by Delaware, 51-35. We look for Jacksonville to step up this time based not only on their superior experience, but a lot of the seniors on this Dolphin team experienced losing at Delaware Stadium two years ago. They remember and return with some vengeance. Speaking of remembering, in 1985, my Auburn buddy Charlie Murren and I attended the Florida at Auburn game won by the Gators. 17-10. QB Kerwin Bell led Florida to the win while his defense held eventual Heisman Trophy winner Bo Jackson to under 60 yards and no TDs. Now we get to see Kerwin’s son play. Time flies while we’re having fun. Tonight’s kick-off is at 7 pm EST.
Tomorrow’s action brings us to Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia for the 3:30 EST kickoff between Penn State and host Temple. Our eyes will be focused on PSU’s offensive line which needs to improve to get the Nittany Lions at least in the hunt for the Big Ten East title. Protection of QB Christian Hackenberg and the revival of a running game will depend on improved line play where inexperience and talent hindered by sanctions set this unit back last year. Their best game of last season was in their 31-30 New Era Pinstripe Bowl against Boston College we attended last December. Rumblings are that the unit has improved during the offseason. They will have a true test in front of them tomorrow against a solid Temple Owl defense despite a 30-13 win a year ago. HC Matt Ruhle, a former PSU LB himself, returns 10 starters on defense. A year ago, his defense ranked 24th in the nation on total defense, fourth in scoring overall. Senior LB Tyler Matakevich is a tacking machine with over 100 tackles in each of his first three season. Nate Smith is formidable also at linebacker while DE Praise Martin-Oguike comes in hard from DE. The secondary led by soph CB Sean Chandler and safeties Will Hayes and Alex Wells who can give PSU receivers fits. It will be a true test for the Lions offense right off the bat. Defensively, led by DT Anthony Zettel and LB Nyeem Wartman, the Lions will show their strength. Temple hopes QB PJ Walker (Elizabeth, NJ) returns to his better form of two years ago as a more efficient dual threat who will rely on RBs Jahad Thomas and Jamie Gilmore to get the tough yards. If the Lions can give Hackenberg consistent protection he needs against the Owl D, they should come away with some confidence for the upcoming season. We expect to see that happen. PSU’s D should give the Lions a significant edge over the Owl offense in the final outcome.
Look for our game reviews for both contests by Sunday evening. Great season coming up!

Our Best Radio Interview this Year – WVSL 92.3 ESPN Radio

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Click on the arrow above for our interview with Chris Schmouder, Josh Bedall, and Ryan Bedall on WVSL 92.3 FM ESPN Radio in Selingsgrove, Pennsylvania on Sunday August 16. Steve Koreivo talks Penn State, Rutgers, Big Ten, Notre Dame, and SEC football among other preseason topics. He also predicts his “Final Four” for 2015!  Come on back regularly before, during, and after the season as we continue to follow the fun, excitement, and happenings about the games we attend, the teams that we follow, and the hottest topics in college football from the “Fan who’s seen ’em all!”

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WCTC 1450 AM Radio interview and Steveo’s Salvos

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Click on 1450 WCTC logo above to hear our interview on August 17 with Bert Baron for a college football preseason preview. WCTC is the Flagship Station of Rutgers Football.

From the “You can’t make this stuff up category”: in 2004, my nine year-old son Eric and I took a ride to Lafayette College in Easton, PA where we saw The Harvard Crimson defeat the home Leopards, 38-23. After the game we walked near the visitors’ locker room to check out the weight room facilities at Fisher Field House and heard some kind of rousing school song coming from the Harvard locker room. The Crimson finished that day with a 3-0 record. They reeled off five more wins to enter tied with Penn both at 5-0 in early November for the Ivy League race. Eric and I went to Franklin Field in Philadelphia to see a de facto Ivy League Championship game. Harvard RB Clifton Dawson ran for 160 yards that day in Harvard’s 31-10 win to clinch at least a tie for the Ivy League Championship. I actually wondered if Dawson had any chance at making it to the pro level. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick threw for 186 yards and two TDs. A week later, The Crimson defeated their bitter rival Yale to win the Ivy League outright. Fast forward to the Discover Orange Bowl on January 4, 2012. On a cold, Miami night after Charlie Murren and I went to K-Mart to buy jackets and gloves to watch the game, Number 22 West Virginia was up 21-17 over Number 13 Clemson early in the second period when LB Darwin Cook recovered a fumble at the one-yard line and raced 99-yards to extend the Mountaineer score, 28-17. On the arm of QB Geno Smith, it was all Mountaineers after that as they continued extending the score with his 407 passing yards and six TD tosses. The Mountaineers set an Orange Bowl scoring record trouncing the Tigers, 70-33. Who could ever imagine in 2015, with the inexcusable sucker punch thrown by a former New York Jet teammate at Geno Davis, that the former Ivy League QB we watched in 2004 would be stepping in for a high-powered record-setting WVU quarterback? We never know who we’ll see when we attend these games. That’s a big part of the fun of following college football…

Miami wasn't as cold though as was UNH at Villanova in 2009.

Miami wasn’t as cold though as was UNH at Villanova in 2009.

Navy football captains QB Keenan Reynolds and NG Bernard Sarra were both recently asked the same question in media interviews and came back with similar retorts. ”Now that Navy is in a conference for the first time, have your season’s priorities changed?” Pundits wanted to hear if a conference championship in the American Athletic Conference transcended everything else for USNA football after being an Independent for 134 years. Both responded in separate interviews that “it’s different here.” The focus is still on winning the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy. The award has been presented since 1972 to the service academy who dominates head to head play between Army, Navy, and Air Force each year. Air Force leads in seasonal wins with 20, Navy 17, and Army 6. Navy’s taken nine of the last 12 after Air Force dominated for many years. Secondly, they said getting to a bowl game is still a priority. For that, the Mids will have more opportunities this year now as part of the American Athletic Conference. Reynolds said though that he understands winning the championship gets his team to a better bowl. We will see USNA focus on its priorities this year when we will see them host Air Force on October 3 and face Army in Philadelphia on December 12. The Mids have won 13 straight over Army. That’s big for Navy Seniors – throughout the entire Brigade, not just for the players. What’s interesting this year is that we will see Army’s last game on November 21st   before Navy when we celebrate our 500th game.   The Cadets host Rutgers. They get three weeks to prep for Navy.  With conference play, Navy plays Houston on November 27. If the Mids get to the AAC Championship, they will play that on December 5. Will we hear that they were looking past that game to Army? We will also see Navy host South Florida in the first AAC game we will see them participate in. Among the seven bowl contracts that the AAC has, one is the Military Bowl played right in Navy-Marine Corp Memorial Stadium. With other AAC bowls in Miami, Boca Raton, and Hawaii, we’re sure the Mids have set their sights on doing some travelling…

The Houston Cougars will be one on navy's annual rivals in the Western Division of the American Athletic Conference.

Navy will play Houston annually in the AAC.

Let’s do some math here. Does this make sense? To us, this is the square peg in a round hole. Sports illustrated in its infinite wisdom, selected eight SEC teams to finish in its Top 25. Six are from the SEC West. Looking at their schedules and if it’s a real dog fight between all these schools that are supposedly so evenly matched, let’s predict that they split the games evenly they play among one another and beat everybody outside of these eight. If there are an odd number of games that a team plays among the eight, let’s say they finish with one more win than a loss. We won’t bring up strengths of schedules (and mostly home games) at this point, but maybe with the lower teams with only three losses, they could all be in the Top 25, but more interestingly the SEC may not have a team in the Final Four depending on other team’s bodies of work.  In this scenario, the two SEC East teams have one loss (this means Georgia could lose to Missouri but it would beat Alabama and Auburn, or beat Missouri for the East outright and split with the other two). In the West, Ole Miss and LSU will have two losses. Alabama, Auburn, Arkansas, and Mississippi State would all have three wins and three losses among the eight. So a 1-loss East team faces a two-loss team for the SEC championship? No brainer that Georgia or Mizzou gets first crack to the Final Four if they win. If a two loss team wins it, will any SEC qualify to go?     Let’s look at it from a different perspective. In order, the SEC teams ranked No. 2 through 25 are Auburn, Alabama, Georgia, Ole Miss, Missouri, Arkansas, LSU, and Mississippi State. Based on this order, let’s say the top rated team defeats all the lower rated teams that they play among these eight. Start from the bottom. They may win all their other games, or they may not. Let’s look at No. 25 Mississippi State. At best under this scenario they finish the regular season at 6-6. Do wins over A&M, Kentucky, Southern Miss, Northwestern State, Troy, and Louisiana Tech earn them at Top 25 ranking? I hope not. Those wins aren’t deserving of a Top 25. No. 23 LSU finishes 7-5 here. SI Writer Gabriel Baumgaertner writes, ”After the home opener against McNeese State, there will be no easy prey for the Tigers.” We beg to differ. SEC wins in this scenario are over aforementioned Mississippi State and unranked SEC teams South Carolina and Florida. “After McNeese State”, Eastern Michigan, Syracuse and Western Kentucky are teams on par with SEC play? If so, the MAC, ACC, and Sunbelt are just as good as the SEC, right? But that’s not something the SEC will admit to. Arkansas loses four head to head bouts here and gets by UTEP, Toledo, UT-Martin, and maybe Texas Tech all at home? Maybe Top 25. Wins over LSU and Mississippi State are not of note. Who did those two beat? The point is if you guarantee these squads should to lose five or six games and not beat anybody of note, how do you include them in your Top 25? Realistically, these are two extremes. It will end up somewhere in the middle as the better teams primarily dominate the lower ones, and a few teams from outside will beat these eight. In the end, it just doesn’t make sense that all these teams can be ranked in the Top 25.

We watched Mizzou beat Arkansas in the 2007 Cotton bowl before the Tigers joined the SEC.

We watched Mizzou beat Arkansas in the 2007 Cotton bowl before the Tigers joined the SEC.

Radio Interview 8:05 am EST On Monday Aug. 17 on WCTC 1450

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On Monday Morning, listen in on your drive to work in central Jersey 1450 Talk Radio WCTC (Rutgers football flagship radio station) or stream on-line to hear us on Jersey Central with Jersey guy (and Lenape Valley Regional HS graduate) Bert Baron on his early morning show that airs from 6-9 am. Click on their logo to listen live, or come back later when we post our interview with Bert for your listening pleasure. To listen here on Monday morning, link on ahead of time and add answer a few questions about where you’re listening  from to gain access to listen live… wctc

July 25 radio interview on “Spadora on Sports”

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We interviewed about the upcoming season on “Peter Spadora on Sports” on WNER 1410 AM his flagship station out of Watertown, NY. Currently, Spadora is featured weekly on FOX Sports Radio WNER-AM 1410 Watertown, NY; WYBG-AM 1050 Massena, NY;  WZNE – FM 94.1 Rochester, NY; BostonSportsRadio Boston, MA; ESPN Radio WTSA-AM 1450 “The Ticket” Brattleboro,VT as the host of SPADORA ON SPORTS. This 2 hour sports radio program features exclusive analysts of the College Football and Basketball, NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL that is built around athlete and celebrity interviews. SPADORA ON SPORTS is currently broadcasted in several markets in NY, VT, and Canada. We will be featured on various Saturdays throughout the college football season. Click on the link below for our July 25 interview:

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“Angel in the desert”

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Check out our link “Tales from the Tailgate” to read an updated excerpt of a favorite chapter in our book about our adventures on our quest to see every major college football team play at least once.  The book covers the first 119 teams, but we’ve kept up seeing eight others that have joined the Football Bowl Subdivision since then.  If you enjoy this particular tale, link on to the book on our Amazon.com website sand read reviews by other readers.  As an avid college football fan, you’ll get a taste for what a great time we’ve had (and continue to have) attending college football games over time and all over the country.  And after you read it, let us know what you think about it by adding your own review to the Amazon site.  It makes for great reading in the offseason waiting for the action to start again next fall. It also makes a great gift for birthdays, graduations, and Father’s Day for any college football fan who would enjoy following this adventure while their favorite team gets ready for the 2015 season.

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