Congratulations to No. 1 Ohio State, first-ever CFP Champs!

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” Le Regiment”

Congratulations to the Ohio State Buckeyes (14-1)  for their 42-20 victory over the now No. 2 Oregon Ducks (13-2) in the first ever College Football Playoff Championship.  The OSU defensive line did an outstanding job shutting down the Duck attack led by Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota.  Kudos to Urban Meyer and his coaching staff to effectively rotate defensive linemen in and out to avoid getting winded early as did Florida State in the Rose Bowl semi-final loss to Oregon.  QB Cardale Jones showed he can be as cool as a cucumber under pressure.  We’re anxious to see what he’ll be like when he gets even more experience down the road.  Ezekial Elliot was outstanding at running back in the semi-final and the final.  The offensive line was outstanding blocking up front. Overall it was great team effort by the Buckeyes that won the game despite four turnovers.  How many teams could have gone all the way as they did with their third-string QB starting in the last three games of the season?   It was the end to an exciting and successful season under the new playoff format. The Buckeyes look to be a force to be reckoned with again next season with so many young key players returning.

Wildcat RB Nico Steriti scored another TD in last week's Wildcat win over UT Chattanooga.

New Hampshire Wildcat RB Nico Steriti had a great game against Fordham in the FCS playoffs.

It was a fantastic season for Collegefootballfan.com as well.  We attended a record 26 college football games in one season in 2014-2015.  We attended five bowl games (two exciting finishes, a big upset, a very competitive game, and one clunker – four out of five isn’t bad).  We attended an FCS quarterfinal game. The New Hampshire Wildcats (12-2) finished third in the nation at the FCS level.  We attended our 10th Army-Navy game. We attended the longest ongoing rivalry in college football when we saw Lafayette play Lehigh for the 150th time when they met at Yankee Stadium to celebrate their special, historic game. I got to watch my Alma Mater , Juniata College, play a home game for the first time in 35 years back in Huntingdon, PA as HC Tim Launtz is turning that program back to what it once was.  The night before, I saw Fordham defeat Bucknell at Christy Mathewson Stadium for my first time to decide the Patriot League Championship. With good friends Charlie and Lynda Murren, we attended a great game with them at their alma mater, Auburn, where the Tigers defeated my daughter’s school, South Carolina, 35-28.  It was bitter sweet as our daughter, Alex, will graduate from South Carolina this spring, and her beloved Gamecocks let her senior class down finishing 7-6.  We attended three SC games this season, and they lost all three!

 

The Syracuse Dance Team performed brilliantly during the game for the Homecoming crowd.

The Syracuse Dance Team performed brilliantly during the game for the Homecoming crowd against then No. 1 Florida State.

We watched a total of 40 different NCAA football teams – 25 FBS schools, nine FCS, and six D-3 schools.  We added the four newest teams to join the FBS – Old Dominion, Appalachian State, Georgia State, and Georgia Southern. We’ve seen every FBS team play at least once including the University of Alabama -Birmingham whose program folded this season (one downer). Though Georgia Southern got romped over by Navy, they finished a very respectable 9-3, best among the new FBS schools, and won the Sunbelt Conference.  However, due to some asinine rule, they did not go to a bowl game giving way to several teams they manhandled.  We attended games at seven new venues for us – five campus sites and two new bowl games.  We saw defending champ Florida State defeat Syracuse with the 2013 Heisman winner Jameis Winston at QB.  Good luck to him in his future if he doesn’t get his act together off the field. We watched Rutgers fall 13-10 in their Big Ten debut to Penn State. One of our former Little League Baseball players, LB Nick Rafferty, made the travel squad every game and lettered at RU as a red-shirt freshman this year. It was a thrill to see him on the team.  PSU was eventually released from sanctions imposed by the Jerry Sandusky crimes as it struggled to a 6-6 finish. Hope is on the horizon, however, as the Lions played their best game of the season in an overtime win over Boston College in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl.  We look forward to the spring game and next season to be back out in State College drinking Evan Williams Honey Bourbon with John and Kelle Massimilla along with their friends and family.  And in our first weekend of the season, we saw South Carolina blown away by Texas A&M because it played the worst defense we could ever remember seeing played at any level of college football.  We knew the Gamecocks were headed for trouble.  But two days later in Baltimore, we watched Navy give Ohio State, led by freshman QB J.T. Barrett, a pretty good game in  a 33-17 Buckeye victory.  Of course little did we know, it was OSU’s first step on the way to the 2014 National Championship.  They became the 11th team in 35 years of us doing this that we would watch play in their Division 1 (now FBS) championship season.

OSU defense in early season action against the Naval Academy.

OSU defense in early season action against the Naval Academy.

Yes, it was a fantastic college football season for Collegefootballfan.com.  In the end, we saw eight of the final Top 25 teams in the AP poll play this season:

1. Ohio State (14-1)

5. Florida State (13-1)

6. Michigan state (11-2)

8. Georgia Tech  (11-3)

11. Mississippi State (10-3)

14. Missouri  (11-3)

22. Auburn (8-5)

24. Marshall (13-1)

We liked the speed, power, and toughness displayed by Marshall FB Devon Johnson (47) when we saw him play against ODU. He finishes 6th in rushing with 1,636 yards and 17 TDs this season.

We liked the speed, power, and toughness displayed by Marshall FB Devon Johnson (47) when we saw him play against ODU. He finishes 6th in rushing with 1,636 yards and 17 TDs this season.

 

Please check us out regularly as we will continue to report on the comings and goings of this season and next.  We will also be adding pages of history and other fun facts on some new pages to be published. Hopefully we can improve our site even more for your viewing and reading pleasure.   We especially  look forward to sharing our ideas for the upcoming season where plans are already underway to do something special for our 500th game to be attended in 2015.  Party!

Also special thanks to Pete Spadora and his crew on WNER 1130 AM in Watertown, NY (and broadcasted in other markets as well).  Pete hosted us on his show “Spadora on Sports” just about every other Saturday and let us talk about everything on our college football platter.  He’s a great supporter and a great friend.  He and his guys make this entire experience even more fun!

Tennessee “slays” inept Iowa

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Maybe if the Hawkeyes were coached to run without holing hands, they could run faster!

Maybe if the Hawkeyes were coached to run without holding hands, they could run faster!

Jacksonville, Florida (January 2, 2015) – The Tennessee Volunteers (7-6) came to the TaxSlayer Bowl (formerly “Gator”) at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville jacked-up to play. The slow-footed, Iowa Hawkeyes (7-6) were out-muscled, out-hustled, and out -coached to a 45-28 Tennessee Vol victory. They played like jack____! And don’t let this final score fool you! Tennessee had a 28-0 lead early in the second quarter after their fourth possession of the game. Eventually the Vols had a 42-7 lead before they emptied their benches to get everybody a chance to play in Tennessee’s first bowl win since 2007. We can’t even say that the Vols drew first blood as Hawkeye DB Desmond King ran into his HC Kirk Ferentz along the sideline and put a bloody gash over his right eye. For Collegefootballfan.com it was disappointing finale – a clunker of a game – to finish our season in which we attended the most games ever, 26, including four bowl games right before this one which were generally well-played and competitive. By the end of the third, we’d see enough. The Hawkeyes didn’t show up despite their final three touchdowns to give the score some undeserved respectability. We had waited too long to see them make us think they were interested in playing a football game as it was. What a letdown for me and the Iowa fans who were far outnumbered by people clad in bright orange get-ups.

Jalen Hurd knifes through the Iowa defense for a first period touchdown.

Jalen Hurd (1) knifes through the Iowa defense for a first period touchdown.

Jalen Hurd (16 carries for 122 yards, 2 TDs) finished the first Vol drive with a three-yard touchdown run. He finished the second with a 29-yard TD scamper. Next time UT had the ball, RB Marlin Lane threw 49-yard option pass to Vic Wharton for a 21-0 lead to end the first period.

To start the second, Vol QB and eventual game MVP Joshua Hobbs got into the act with an eight-yard run. He finished the day with16 of 21 passing for 129 yards and one TD to go along with 76 rushing yards and two TDs. Then low and without a hold, FB Mack Weisman tripped into the end zone by the nose of the football to put the Hawkeyes on the board. Dobbs threw a TD pass to Von Pearson for a 35-7 lead at intermission.

QB Joshua Dobbs dashes between blockers for a big gain.

QB Joshua Dobbs dashes between blockers for a big gain.

At halftime, I started to plan my move out to beat the traffic, but I held out as long as I could. I had no other plans then to have dinner, watch another game on TV, write down some notes about my four bowl game stories, and pack up for my trip back to NJ the next day. Of course, I really looked forward to spending the day in Nashville again on my way back and meeting up with HS classmate Paul Kleim and his wife Carolyn. Now Tennessee farmers, this Jersey boy was looking forward to meeting up with them to show them around Nashville before catching an evening flight back home. I could use a few Bloody Marys, some Apple Piehole, and beers along with some good old country and western (and we enjoyed them all. And more!).

Ahhhh!...Halftime!

Ahhhh! What a relief…Halftime!

Dobbs scored on an 11-yard run in the third for a 42-7 lead.   The third period ended. I knew who was taking home the trophy in the first quarter. My season was ending on a whimper and not a bang. I was out of there. Tennessee won, 45-28. I heard all about it at the local Applebee’s that night. I had beaten the crowd in, but 20 minutes later, the bartender Bud and I and the waitresses were about the only ones not wearing Orange! There were a few humbled Hawkeye fans, too.

Congrats to Tennessee. But can your band please learn to play something other than “Rocky Top!”

This is what it looked like at Applebee's after the game.

This is what it looked like at Applebee’s after the game.

I have to start planning now for September 3, 2015. What teams will be kicking off the season that Thursday night? Can I combine a trip to see a game on Friday and Saturday and maybe Monday, Labor Day? When will all the schedules be out? Next year is game #500 for me. Who? What? Where? When? Tickets? Got to plan a big tailgate for that one. So let the real fun begin – again!

Look for more stuff on the upcoming CFP game and beyond. We don’t stop talking college football because the games are done. Click here to hear us on Saturday morning with Pete Spadora on “Spadora on Sports!” on WNER in Watertown, NY.  Time to be announced in a day or so.

The US Marine Corps Ceremonial band from Paris Island, SC performed before the game. They could have put up a better fight than the Hawkeyes had they played in the game instead.

The US Marine Corps Ceremonial band from Paris Island, SC performed before the game. They could have put up a better fight than the Hawkeyes had they played in the game instead.

No. 16 Tigers devour No. 25 Gophers with solid defense and late surge

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Minnesota's David Cobb (27) gained 1,595 yards during the season and scored 13 TDS. Mizzou held him to 81 yards and no scores at the BWW Citrus Bowl.

Minnesota’s David Cobb (27) gained 1,595 yards during the season and scored 13 TDS. Mizzou held him to 81 yards and no scores at the BWW Citrus Bowl.

Orlando, Florida (January 1, 2015) – Missouri (11-3) led Minnesota (8-5), 19-17, heading into the final period of play. The Tiger defense had held Gopher RB David Cobb well under his 128.8 ypg rushing average (21 carries for 81 yards) to stay in front in a close, low scoring game. In the final period, it was the Mizzou running game that sealed the victory in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl.  Russell Hansbrough (15 carries for 114 yards) broke through the middle of the Minnesota defense for a 78-yard touchdown run and Marcus Murphy’s 69-yard run (12 carries for 157 yards) on their next possession set up a seven-yard TD pass from Marty Mauk to WR Bud Sasser that finished off the Gophers for their 33-17 win. In the end it was defensive end Markus Golden who won game MVP honors with ten tackles including 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and four tackles for losses.   For CFF.com, we had a later start than anticipated as our 5:30 am wakeup call in Miami did not come through.  We started our drive to Orlando an hour and a half later than expected, but we made it on time and it was well worth the trip as we’d received press credentials to cover the game from press row, a great experience put on by a very hospitable bowl committee. As you can imagine, they provided all the Buffalo Wild Wings we could eat!

Missouri Head Coach Gary Pinkel, MVP DE Markus Golden, and WR Bud Sasser (2 TDs) spoke at the post-game press conference.

Missouri Head Coach Gary Pinkel, MVP DE Markus Golden, and WR Bud Sasser (2 TDs) spoke at the post-game press conference.

Following a Minnesota interception of a Marty Mauk pass on the first possession of the game, a fumble caused on a sack by Golden and fellow DE and All-American Shane Ray only resulted in a second pass interception by Minnesota. CB Briean Boddy-Calhoun’s pick in the end zone started the Golden Gophers from their 20. They took it the length of the field with Rodrick Williams posting the first score of the game with a 20-yard run.

In the second period, the Tigers finally got on the scoreboard with Andrew Baggett’s 21-yard FG. After taking over on the next punt from their 33, the Tigers drove down the field culminating with a second score as Maty Mauk (12 for 19 for 97 yards, 2 INTs, 2 TDs) tossed a 25-yard TD pass to WR Bud Sasser with 1:04 left in the half. With time-outs still in his back pocket, Minnesota HC Jerry Kill displayed no sense of urgency to get into scoring position again before the half. A few short passes took them only 11 yards as time expired. That’s the way the half ended, 10-7. I snapped a few pictures from my front seat in press row, and it was time to go back to the buffet to get some more wings. The two teams seemed to be sparring with one another during the first half still feeling each other out. Missouri HC of 14 years, Gary Pinkel, went back to the locker room and planned to come out swinging.

The Tigers' Marcus Murphy tallied 157 rushing yards on the day including 69-yard jaunt that set up the final score of the game.

The Tigers’ Marcus Murphy (6) tallied 157 rushing yards on the day including 69-yard jaunt that set up the final score of the game.

Mizzou’s PK Andrew Baggett launched a perfectly placed floater on the kickoff near the right sideline where Ian Simon recovered it at the Minnesota 47 against the unsuspecting Gophers. The eventual result was a 33-yard FG by Baggett for a 13-7 Missouri lead. Minnesota didn’t take that lying down. It seemed to light a spark back in the offense. From their 46, QB Mitch Leidner (21 of 31, 258 yards, 1 TD) connected with TE Maxx Williams along the left sideline. He charged up field, hurdled one would-be tackler and dove past another into the end zone for a 54-yard touchdown to give the Gophers a 14-13 lead. Could this be the spark the Golden Gophers needed? The defense forced the Tigers to punt after a three and out, but a fumble of the punt by Marcus Jones put the Tigers back in business at the Minnesota 34.   A roughing the passer call moved the ball another 15 yards before Mauk scrambled and took it through the middle of the Minnesota defense for an 18-yard scoring run putting DB Derrick Wells flat on his back in the end zone. He had to be helped off the field. The two-point conversion was intercepted by Boddy-Calhoun who was stopped up field. Jalen Myrick returned the kickoff 57 yards to Missouri’s 43. The big return resulted in a Ryan Santoso FG from 33 yards away. The Tigers took the 19-17 lead into the final period before they broke off the big runs to extend their lead and then seal the victory, 33-17. It was a competitive game for the most part, but the Tigers found the holes to get past the tiring Gopher line to put them away for a fruitful victory in the Citrus bowl.

Sasser (21) beats his defender to the corner for a seven-yard TD pass to make the score, 33-17.

Sasser (21) beats his defender to the corner for a seven-yard TD pass to make the score, 33-17.

Extra points: We can’t thank the Florida Citrus Sports Communications group enough for all their hospitality, support, and ongoing communications before and during our visit to Orlando for the game. It was first class all the way. With our tight schedule attending four games in four days, they did a great job keeping us informed of what was going on and how to get credentials and where to be, etc.  Our favorite piece of pre-game information: Minnesota bested Missouri at the luncheon on New Year’s Eve held at a local Orlando Buffalo Wild Wings. The Gophers prevailed 2,760 wings devoured to 2,070 by the Tigers. Watch out for gophers hanging near the hen house!

The victors pose with new hardware for their trophy case and the Buffalo Wild wings mascot.

The victors pose with new hardware for their trophy case and the Buffalo Wild Wings’ mascot.

“SEC! SEC! SEC!” was the post-game chant by the victorious Tiger fans. At first as I stood on the field near the podium, I couldn’t figure out why they thought it made any sense to celebrate being in the SEC. I didn’t understand where they were coming from. The Tigers kind of deserved a chant to celebrate their own success. To heck with the rest of the conference. They’ve had the same coach for 14 years now, they’ve won 23 games in two years for the first time ever, they won the SEC East two years in a row, they have been quite successful bringing in recruits they initially recruited to play Big 12 football…THEN it hit me! Had they stayed in the Big Twelve as they’d played in for years, they probably couldn’t have been as successful. A&M hasn’t done badly since their transition from there either. Maybe more teams should join the SEC to turn their programs around. There must be something to this: two titles in three years. It didn’t take them long to enjoy the spoils of this move.

Missouri's Golden Girls do a victory dance after the final score.

Missouri’s Golden Girls do a victory dance after the final score.

Yellow Jackets rout Bulldogs in an Orange Bowl crush

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Omen: The Air Force Academy, another triple option football team, delivers the game balls for the pregame festivities.

Omen: The Air Force Academy, another triple option football team, delivers the game balls for the pregame festivities.

Miami Lakes, FL ( December 31) – It was a very Happy New Year for Georgia Tech and its football program as the 12th-ranked Yellow jackets out-raced the 7th-ranked Bulldogs during the third quarter of one of this year’s four College Football Playoff (CFP) bowls to score a tremendous upset, 49-34. It was one of those games where the final result wasn’t indicative of the true dominance by the winners. Tech’s triple option attack set an Orange Bowl record with 452 yards rushing. RB Synjyn Days ran for 171 yards and three TDS, but sophomore QB Justin Thomas garnered the MVP Trophy with his efforts as he tallied 121 yards on the ground, three rushing touchdowns, and threw for 125 yards on seven of twelve passing and one touchdown. Holding a 21-20 lead at the half, the Rambling Wreck (11-3) came out firing on all cylinders to ramble by the Bulldogs outscoring them, 21-0, in the third. The option was engineered better than by any other QB HC Paul Johnson’s had at Tech since he arrived from the Naval Academy. Despite the Bulldogs 453 passing yards by QB Dak Prescott, the GT defense covered close and tackled well in the open field to keep the SEC team in check throughout the exciting game. For CFF.com, the result couldn’t have been more rewarding after a flight from Nashville to Jacksonville followed by a seven hour drive to Miami with a stop in Orlando on the way down for the 8 pm kickoff.

QB Justin Thomas (5) scores from 13 yards out in the first half for Georgia Tech.

QB Justin Thomas (5) scores from 13 yards out in the first half for Georgia Tech.

After I sat high in the upper deck of Sun Life Stadium realizing I shouldn’t have bought a ticket in advance, I positioned myself to a better view to cut my sight angle and to take some better pictures. It was good move for some critical plays later. Tech DB Chris Milton picked off a deflected pass by Prescott and set his offense up at the MSU 36. Four plays later, Days took it in from the three. Later in the period, Thomas connected with Darren Waller (5 catches, 114 yards, 1 TD) in the end zone for a 41-yard pass to hold a 14-0 lead at the end to the period.

State (10-3) tallied 13 point to close within one on a Prescott 5-yard run sandwiched between two Evan Sobiesk field goals of 32 and 30 yards. The Jackets responded next with an 82-yard scoring drive capped by Thomas’s 13-yard TD run around the right side to extend GT’s lead, 21-13, with only 29 seconds remaining until half time. However, Prescott moved the ball to the Tech 42 with both teams using all their time-outs to make adjustments as State moved closer into scoring range. Paul Johnson, himself an offensive guru, gathered his defense around him to tell them to stay deeper than the deepest man and when they got to the ball to be sure to knock it down and not up. The strategy was sound, and the defensive execution was correct as the ball fell to the ground, but Bulldog WR Fred Ross who had trailed the play caught the descending deflection coming out of the crowd before it hit the ground and State was within two. The extra point got delayed as the roadies for the halftime show had already rolled out three large stages for the halftime entertainment. They seemed hesitant to react at first seeming to think that his was a concert with football as entertainment and not vice versa. It took them a few minutes to get the stage far enough off the field before Sobiesk kicked the PAT to make it a one-point margin at 21-20 at the half.

MSU QB Dak Prescott looks for running room against stingy Georgia Tech front seven.

MSU QB Dak Prescott looks for running room against stingy Georgia Tech front seven.

The Country group “Little Big Town” performed at the half along with about a million high school and grade school cheerleaders for our New Year’s Eve halftime entertainment. As noted before, there were a lot of empty seats at this one. When I bought the tickets in advance, it was back when the potential was for teams like Notre Dame, Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan State, Florida State, or Ohio State to play in this game with possibly just one loss and to possibly not make the Final Four. Tech and State have good but not huge fan followings when on the road, but now I even wonder if schools such as those I mentioned would draw big crowds to these CFP Bowls as opposed to playing in one of the two semi-final games on New Year’s Day. I probably won’t buy tickets in advance for a CFP Bowl again knowing what I know now. I think this will become the eventual drive to go to an eight –team playoff. However, for this reason, I’ll still suggest that the opening round be played on the campus of the four highest seeds. There’s no way these bowls can fill to capacity if teams have to play two or three games on neutral sites on the road to the title. Their fans would probably wait to see if they make it to the final and then there would be a clamor for tickets. It would also depend on the teams involved. Some have better road followings than others.

Tech received the opening kickoff to start the third, and two plays later Synjyn Days broke to the left sideline and tip-toed along the way for a 69-yard touchdown. The play was reviewed, but I saw from my perfectly aligned perch that he never came close to stepping out. Retaking a quick 28-20 lead, the Jackets showed that they weren’t about to back down to the favored Bulldogs from the SEC. It was all Yellow Jackets after that. The defense took the ball over on downs. The offense responded with an 81-yard scoring drive effectively running the option until Thomas raced through the right side for a 32-yard score. Next,  the swarming Yellow Jacket defense recovered a Prescott fumble on their 48. This time Thomas ran it over from the 15. The third ended with the Wrecks on top, 42-20. The Bulldogs couldn’t move the football or stop Tech’s well-oiled triple option.

MVP Justin Thomas runs for one of his two TDs in the third period.

MVP Justin Thomas runs for one of his two TDs in the third period.

In the final period, Mississippi State tried to mount a comeback as Prescott threw a seven-yard TD pass to De’Runnya Wilson on the first play of the final period to cap a drive. However, Tech could still not be denied. State attempted an onsides kick that put the Jackets on their 46. Seven plays and three minutes later, Days carried the ball in from the four. State finished up the scoring with a 12-yard pass from Prescott to Wilson to close the scoring for the game, 49-34.

Tech was already starting their New Year’s Eve celebration along the sideline. It was all over, and Georgia Tech is probably looking forward to 2015 already. Thomas, a sophomore, will probably be back for two more seasons. He’s not an NFL caliber quarterback looking to jump to the pros. Instead, he’s a QB perfect for Paul Johnson’s triple option attack. He’s a small, quick, athletic running back who can throw the ball well when he has to. Keep an eye on Tech the next few years. We haven’t been to Grant Field in Atlanta yet, and one of the next two years may give us a good excuse to go to a game down there in Atlanta.

In the meantime, I drove to my hotel, filled the car with gas on the way back, showered, repacked and got ready for a trek back north to Orlando on New Year’s morning. On my way down, I stopped in Orlando on the way to pick up my press credentials to cover the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl for Collegefootballfan.com in the first to be played in the new Orlando Citrus Bowl Stadium. It couldn’t get much better for a college football fan than this.

Next stop: New Year’s Day in Orlando

 

Tech fans had much to cheer for when they greeted in the New Year on New Year's Eve!

Tech fans had much to cheer for when they greeted in the New Year on New Year’s Eve!

Extra points: Every school is proud of its fight song and everyone knows “Ramblin’ Wreck from Georgia Tech.” When they introduced it as the world’s greatest fight song, I differed significantly. I made a DVD with 90 minutes of many favorite fights song that I love to listen to (ask people who travel to games with me in my car). I hate to tell them that this one is not on there. It’s good, but I doesn’t get me fired up like most of the others do.

The opening band that came on to play before the game was the Easton (PA) Area High School marching band. Easton is the home of FCS school Lafayette College about an hour from my home. We attend Lafayette Leopard games there once in a while as well as the traditional longest college rivalry (#150 this year) played against nearby, archival Lehigh. Another traditional game played at Lafayette College every year is Easton Area of PA against Phillipsburg right across the Delaware River in NJ as they have a long time rivalry of their own played every Thanksgiving. I got some band members a little shocked but smiling when I walked by them after the game and said, “Go Phillipsburg!”

With some of these SEC bowl losses, I’m wondering if any lesson will be learned that they have to shore up their non-conference schedules somehow to understand that there are better teams out there that they have to prepare for. MSU is a good case in point. They had basically four automatic wins this season – Southern Miss, 1-11 a year ago and 3-9 this season; Alabama-Birmingham who decided to end their program this season after years of futility; at South Alabama, a third year FBS program; and UT-Martin, a 6-6 FCS program. Playing these weak non-conference games and familiarizing yourself year after year with only other programs in your conference, provide a poor perception that there are other really good teams outside your conference playing football. It would help to play one or two better non-conference opponents to familiarize your team that there are other real football programs out there beyond your own short scope. You can’t think every team out there is a walkover like the ones scheduled by the Bulldogs. Of course, you have to beat some of them to get to a bowl, but there seems to be fear of such challenges in the SEC.

When the announcer said that the MSU band would do their State spell out, I was expecting, " one Mississippi, two Mississippi..."

When the announcer said that the MSU band would do their State spell out, I was expecting, ” one Mississippi, two Mississippi…”

 

Field Goal at: 00 gives Irish win over LSU in Music City Bowl, 31-28

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Nashville, Tennessee (December 30) – With the score tied at 28, Notre Dame drove the ball from their 15 with 5:41 left in the game down to the 14-yard line against the best defense in the SEC, and with no time left on the clock, Kyle Brindza kicked the football through the uprights as time expired to give the Fighting Irish a 31-28 win over LSU in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl. Both teams finished their seasons at 8-5. The Tigers scored on three plays of 75 yards or more, but the Irish rolled consistently up and down the field amassing 449 yards of total offense while controlling the ball for 37 minutes and avoiding turnovers to offset LSU’s quick strikes. They successfully converted 11 of 17 third down attempts to sustain drives along with one of two conversions on fourth down. CFF.com enjoyed two days in Nashville to kick off four of the five games remaining on our 2014-2015 bowl schedule.

RB Will Fuller, number “7” for the Irish, started off the scoring in the first with a 12-yard TD reception from first time ND starting QB Malik Zaire, but it was matched by LSU’s number “7” on the following drive as game MVP Leonard Fournette (11 carries for 143 yards, 2 TDs) ran it in from the seven to even the score in the first period with an eight-yard TD.

Malik Zaire shared Irish QB duties with Everett Golson. He passed for 96 yards and ran for 96 yards scoring one TD and throwing for another.

Malik Zaire (8) shared Irish QB duties with Everett Golson. He passed for 96 yards and ran for 96 yards scoring one TD and throwing for another.

In the second period, Zaire (12 of 15 passing, 1 TD, 96 yards; rushing for 96 yards, 1 TD) scored on a seven-yard run. But Fournette, a freshman, evened the game up even more quickly this time breaking through the Irish kicking team down the middle of the field for a 100-yard touchdown return. The Irish patiently responded with another drive kept alive with a 17-yard gain on a third and eleven at the 27 on a pass from Zaire to Fuller. RB Taurean Folston carried it around left end from the six with a key block from Zaire. The Tigers took possession from the 25 with 6:12 left in the period and put together a drive where they stalled at the Irish 2 with a fourth down. As I watched PK Trent Domingue trot on to the field high from my 400 level seat above the corner of the end zone, I said to no one else there, “Watch the fake.” Holder Brad Kragthorpe took the snap and ran over his left tackle where he stretched out his arms with the ball as he neared the goal line only to have it quickly knocked down. Close, but no cigar as the replay officials confirmed the stop on the field. I was shocked to see such a call made against an SEC team. The half ended with the Irish in the lead, 21-14.

LSU Frosh RB Leonard Fournette (7)scored on a 100-yard kickoff return and on an 89-yard run from scrimmage.

LSU Frosh RB Leonard Fournette (7)scored on a 100-yard kickoff return and on an 89-yard run from scrimmage.

To start the third against a Notre Dame defense decimated by injuries throughout the season, QB Anthony Jennings lofted a soft, easy toss over them to WR John Diarse who turned and raced with it 75 yards to tie the score once again. Later in the period, LSU started from its 11 after a Notre Dame punt, and in one pitch to Fournette, he basically ran it through the middle of the Irish line untouched and raced 89 yards to give the Tigers its first lead of the game, 28-21. On the subsequent Irish series, however, they finally came up with a quick strike score of their own as WR C.J. Prosise took a pitch on a sweep right and raced down field diving over the goal line by the pylon for a 50-yard TD that resulted in a 28-28 score that took the game into the final period.

WR C.J. Prosise stopped by LSU defense.

WR C.J. Prosise stopped by LSU defense.

LSU drove to the Irish 23 on the first possession of Q4 and Domingue came in again to try to retake the lead, but his low kick was knocked down by Isaac Rochell and Notre Dame too back over. After an exchange of punts, Notre Dame started its game-winning drive leading to Brindza’s FG, but it took two third down conversions to keep the Irish in possession. A key one was on a third and ten from their 42 where Zaire connected with TE Ben Koyack for a 12-yard gain.

It was an exciting game with big plays and a last second winning field goal to determine the score. We didn’t think we could top the excitement of the Penn State overtime win over Boston College at the Pinstripe Bowl, but Collegefootballfan.com was on a fantastic roll two games into our bowl season. Could we expect the excitement to continue? After this game, I headed back to Piranha’s on Second Ave for dinner, beers, and updates on other bowl games. From there it was back to the hotel to pack up again for an early morning flight to Jacksonville on the way to the CapitalOne Orange Bowl in Miami.

Kyle Brindza nails the winning field goal with :00 to give Notre Dame a 31-28 win.

Kyle Brindza nails the winning field goal with :00 to give Notre Dame a 31-28 win.

Extra points: Notre Dame now leads the series between the two schools, 6-5.

The Music City Bowl came up with a song to promote the bowl for now and in the future with a new title, “This is the Big Time.”

I arrived on Monday the 29th the day before to check out the sights and sounds of Nashville as I had enjoyed the venue the year before. At Piranha’s, I got the day started off with Bloody Marys and got to know Will, the bartender there, before meeting up with Joe Rogers of the “College Football Bowl Report.” Will played D-3 Ball for Heidelberg University before a concussion ended his career in his senior season. I asked him how it felt though to play for a team whose nickname is “the Student Princes”! He flinched, not only because I knew what they were called, but he said that it was tough and that there had been efforts to even refer to the team as just “The Berg.” But that was set aside by some alumni influence. Had lunch there as well with a burger from the grill. Joe showed up a little alter with two of his fellow LSU fans who had driven up from Louisiana to meet with him, Karl Zeller and Brandon Michel. Brandon had played DB for LSU back in the mid-90s. I’ll have to catch up with them for a future game at Tiger Stadium again.

Later that night, we went to the Benchmark a couple of doors down where the music was already playing and Elaine and Whitney were bartending. Beers and shots were the orders. Had a good time talking to others about football and Nashville in general. We tried a few new drinks too including a Pecan Piehole. I had also told Elaine about the great concocted Bloody Marys I had had at the Memphis Beale Street Music Festival this past May where they were spiced up with Paprika that gave it a taste I really liked. The next morning before heading over the bridge to LP Stadium, Elaine brought out the paprika to spice up my drink. Great start to a day to watch football. We enjoy downtown Nashville as a convenient pregame tailgate venue without the actual tailgate. The drinks and food are there and an easy walk across the bridge to the game makes any game day a full party day in the Music City.

Starting ND DE Andrew Trumbetti was in the lineup shoring up the decimated Irish defense. He made a few stops. I had seen this RS Freshman from Demarest, NJ two years ago throwing the shot put at some local high school relays my son Eric competed in.

Watch for game and trip summaries of the other three bowl games I attended after the Music City.

Next Up: The CapitalOne Orange Bowl

Irish celebrate victory after the game singing the Notre Dame alma mater.

Irish celebrate victory after the game singing the Notre Dame alma mater.

Penn State edges Boston College in OT at New Era Pinstripe

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The Bronx, New York (December 27) – Penn State Senior PK Sam Ficken booted a 45 -yard FG with 20 seconds left in regulation to tie Boston College, 24-24. In the hard-fought, intense game at the Pinstripe Bowl played at Yankee Stadium in front of 49,012 rabid fans from both schools, he converted his extra point in OT after a ten-yard TD pass to TE Kyle Carter on a fade route to the left side that tied the Eagles to take home the hardware for an exciting 31-30 win. The Eagles scored on the first possession in OT on a 21-yard catch and run, by Dave Dudeck (Hamilton, NJ), but Mike Knoll’s PAT went surprisingly wide right. PSU Soph QB Christian Hackenberg probably got the best pass protection he got all season in the second half to overcome a 21-7 deficit to Boston College (7-6) with 2:12 left in the third period. He finished his day with four TD passes, two in the fourth and the last in the overtime along with 371 yards on a 34 for 50 day to give the Nittany Lions a winning season at 7-6. For CFF.com, it was our first of five post season bowls heading into the end of our own record-setting 2014 season where we plan to have attended 26 NCAA football games.

Setting four passing records in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl, PSU QB Christian Hackenberg was named the game's MVP.

Setting four passing records in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl, PSU QB Christian Hackenberg was named the game’s MVP.

Both highly-ranked defenses dominated in the first half holding each offense to only one score. PSU drew first blood on a 72-yard scoring pass from Hackenberg to Chris Godwin who shook off one tackler and streaked the distance along the right sideline for a 7-0 lead. PSU attempted an on sides kick but it was caught out of bounds and BC took over on its 48. At the Lions’ 49, Frosh RB Josh Hilliman (Plainfield, NJ; 25 carries 148 yards, 1 TD) ran off right tackle and broke away to the end zone to even the score. The Lions were on the move again to the Eagles’ 21, but Hackenberg mishandled the snap and turned the ball over. Neither team managed any scoring threat for the balance of the first half.

Jon Hilliman picks up yards against the tough Penn State defense early in the game.

Jon Hilliman picks up yards against the tough Penn State defense early in the game.

BC started off the second half from its 40 after a 32 yard return by Myles Willis. QB Tyler Murphy, a Florida transfer ( 11 of 19 passing for 97 yards and two TDs; 11 rushes for 105 yards, one TD), finished a scoring drive with a 19-yard pass to Shakim Phillips near the right pylon to take a 14-7 lead for the Eagles. A fumble by Hackenberg and a recovery by BC’s Matt Milano gave the Eagles possession on their 37. At the Penn State 40, Murphy faked the handoff on the option and sped around the left end juking past a defender for a 40-yard touchdown scamper, and BC extended its lead, 21-7. PSU started its next possession from the 37, and the O-line started to show signs of protecting its QB against a very good Boston College defense. As the third period expired, Hackenberg connected with Geno Lewis in the end zone as a defender swatted the ball up, and Lewis snagged it on the way down for an over the shoulder catch for a seven-yard scoring play. The third expired with BC leading, 21-14.

The Lion defense puts the stop on Eagle RB Marcus Outlow.

The Lion defense puts the stop on Eagle RB Marcus Outlow.

After PSU’s No. 2 rushing defense held BC to a second series of three and outs, they took the ball back on their 45. RB Akeel Lynch (17 carries for 75 yards) raced 35 yards to the Eagle one. An unsportsmanlike call against the o-line put PSU back on the 16. On second and goal, Hackenberg fired the ball into the end zone to DaeSean Hamilton for his third TD pass of the game and the score was knotted, 21-21. BC came out effectively running the ball between Murphy and Hilliman. Penn State’s defense stiffened, and with 2:12 remaining, Mike Knoll put BC back in front, 24-21, with a 20-yard FG. The Lions moved the ball on the ensuing series with five straight completions by Hackenberg to control the clock with one time-out left. Two subsequent runs put them at the 27, and Sam Ficken, who struggled early in his kicking career at Penn State, split the uprights from the 45 to even the score, 24-24, with 20 seconds left to send the game into overtime. His extra point after Kyle’s Carter TD reception sealed the exciting bowl win for the Nittany Lions.

Akeel Lynch's (22) run to the one in the fourth set up Penn State's game-tying touchdown later on.

Akeel Lynch’s (22) run to the one in the fourth set up Penn State’s game-tying touchdown later on.

It was a hard fought game played by both teams. It’s a shame the Eagles had to lose it on a missed extra point in OT, but that’s how it ended. We’ve seen others disappointingly settled the same way.  In the annals of our history, this was our 481st game. PSU now has a record of 71-22 and is 4-0 in bowl games. BC is now 7-6 overall and is 0-2 in their bowl games we’ve attended.

Next we fly to Nashville for the Music City Bowl on Tuesday between LSU and Notre Dame. We will hook up with our friend Joe Rogers of the College Football Bowl Report to enjoy the game and the Music City.

Aaron, John, and me outside of Yankee Stadium at The New Era Pinstripe Bowl.

Aaron, John, and me outside of Yankee Stadium at The New Era Pinstripe Bowl.

Extra points: Lively crowd for sure. We met up with long-time Penn State connection John Massimilla and his son-in-law Aaron and other friends (among them Evan Williams) who came out from Chambersburg by bus. We got to tailgate and smoke cigar compliments of John before the game at the bus lot on the corner of 151st and River Ave.

A tribute and a moment of silence were made before the game to the New York Police officers who were assassinated in Brooklyn by a coward last week. I saw some people go out of their way to shake hands with some of the officers on duty at Yankee Stadium during the game to thank them for their service.

Also joining me today as Guest Game Analyst was my 19-year old son Eric on his final day of Christmas leave as he’s now a Petty Officer 3/c in the US Navy.  Eric and I did five bowl tours together over the years including Florida, Tennessee, Texas, and to the west coast when he was younger.  He’s headed back to go on duty now, but it was great that we got to see such a great game together in the short amount of time we had to spend.  Go Navy! We’re all proud of him.

Bowl observations: Navy’s defense confirmed their improvement by holding San Diego State down in their 17-16 win at the Poinsettia Bowl. We had seen them shut down a vaunted Georgia Southern running game earlier and a good Army triple option attack in their 17-10 victory, but they did as well against a potent Aztec attack led by Donnell Pumphrey…How did North Carolina beat Duke and Georgia Tech to go 6-6 to play Rutgers in the Quick Lane Bowl? RU whipped them like they didn’t belong… Overall, however, most of the bowls have been well played, close games. However,  I would prefer to see most to the games played before Christmas discontinued for several reason. One, nobody has the time or interest in travelling so far or spending more money that time of year. Two, I would like to see 6-6 teams eliminated as bowl eligible. Especially if that total includes non-FBS teams. Three, there are too many bowls. Four, let’s go back to distinguishing winners from losers. Five, I would like to see eight teams in the CFP with the opening round played at the stadiums of the top four seeds. Six, bowls should still be rewards for “good”seasons. Seven, everybody gets a trophy. Phooey! Eight, I hate seeing televised football games played in front of so many empty seats. Nine, the games are essentially for filling up ESPN air time so they can sell commercials that we get bombarded with from game to game after game. Ten, how many bowl eligible teams anybody plays or beats is so insignificant now because 78 of 128 teams are in bowl games. That’s no big deal any more.

All five teams we saw this year that have gone on to Bowl games thus far are undefeated. In addition to Penn State, Rutgers, Navy, South Carolina, and Marshall all came up with bowl wins for a 5-0 record. Texas A&M, Auburn, Missouri, Ohio State, and Florida State all have their games coming up. I still don’t understand why the Sunbelt couldn’t let their 9-3 champ Georgia Southern go to a bowl. So what if it was their first season in the Belt? A conference champ is the best team you have to represent your league.

CFP Bowl predictions: With our whirlwind tour of four games in four days coming up this week, we probably won’t update the stories and events of our trip to our games until next weekend. There will be a lot of driving in between games, some partying (mostly before the Music City), some sleeping, and an evening of CFP bowl watching planned on New Year’s Day that will preclude us from getting out the updates of games that we’ll be attending. So before I’m on the road again, here are my predictions for the two semi-final games on January 1:

No. 2 Oregon vs. No. 3 Florida State: As is his habit, Jameis Winston will find a way to overcome Oregon after Marcus Mariota and his flock take an early lead in the Rose Bowl. Winston just figures a way to bring his team back to life to slither back into the game when it’s on the line, and then the  Seminoles will be heading to Arlington. They’ll win in a close one to the tune of something like 27-24. Winston and the Noles will do whatever it takes to win their 28th game in a row to go defend their 2013 title.

No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Ohio State: Nick Saban has had over three weeks to dissect QB Cardale Jones after the Buckeyes 59-0 romp over Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship. He’ll have an effective game plan in place. Ohio State’s defense is no slouch, however, and they will be ready for Blake Sims and Amari Cooper. I’ll give the edge to Saban in this case as his experienced QB should help him get by the Buckeyes. Plus being in the Sugar Bowl will make it like an Alabama home game. The Tide will win, 27-14. We’ll be back in time to predict the outcome of the first CFP to be played on January 12.

Happy New Year!

Navy bests archrival Army for 13 straight win in 115th game of storied rivalry

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Baltimore (December 13) – The Midshipman of Navy (7-5) took the 115th edition of its storied rivalry against archrival Army, 17-10, for their 13th consecutive win in the series. The Mids now lead Army all time, 59-49-7, and continue the longest win streak in the rivalry started in 1890. The second longest win streak in the series is shared between both at five. The two rivals mirror each other in play calling and in the triple option offense. Had you exchanged uniforms between the two teams, it would have been difficult to tell which team was which. Both squads are coached by former fellow assistant coaches who met each other 25 years ago at the University of Hawaii learning the triple option under former Hawaii and Navy mentor Paul Johnson, who continues to run the same attack at Georgia Tech. With the Navy victory, HC Ken Niumatalolo became the winningest HC in Navy football history with his 56th win in seven seasons (56-35). Navy QB Keenan Reynolds led his team to the win with a touchdown run and a touchdown pass. The game was hard-fought as usual. Guest Game Analyst (GGA) Frank Scarpa contributed heavily to the review of the game below as both teams used similar offensive strategies throughout the game played in front of 70, 935 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.

Josh Jenkins returns opening kickoff against Navy to the Army 23.

Josh Jenkins returns opening kickoff against Navy to the Army 23.

Following the kickoff to Army: run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run. Army’s DB Josh Jenkins blocked Navy’s punt and WR Xavier Moss picked it of the surface and ran it over the goal line from seven yards away to give Army a 7-0 lead. The Corps of Cadets exploded and wished the game was over right then and there to end their long drought in the rivalry. Run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run. End of first period.

Run, run, run, run, run, run run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run. Navy passed for 34 yards. Run. Pass for 12 yards. Run, run. QB Keenan Reynolds ( 26 carries for 100 yards rushing, 6 of 8 passing for 77 yards and one TD) fired a low strike into the end zones to WR Jamir Tillman who turned to catch the ball at his knees for a nine-yard touchdown reception to tie the score , 7-7, with 18 seconds left in the half. Army’s O had not yet recorded one passing yard at the end of the half.

Navy FB Chris Swain (37) gains yardage against Army defenders.

Navy FB Chris Swain (37) gains yardage against Army defenders.

Navy’s Drum & Bugle Corps performed celebrating its 100th anniversary since its formation. Prior to the kickoff to start the game, Navy Leap Frogs and Army Gold Knights parachuted on to the M&T turf with the traditional game balls. Soon after, flyovers were performed by Army Apache helicopters and Navy YF16s. It was awesome as usual to feel and see the power and dedication of our armed services that protect our freedom. Go Navy! Go Army!

Navy had deferred to receive the opening kickoff in the second half and it paid off as Ryan Williams returned the ball 41 yards to the 50. Run, run, run, run, run, run, run. Navy’s Austin Grebe made good on a 45-yard FG to give Navy a 10-7 lead. Run, run, run, run, run, pass, run, run, run, pass, run, run, run. End of third period.

Army Golden Knights descend into M&T Bank Stadium.

Army Golden Knights descend into M&T Bank Stadium.

Army Apache Helos fly over M&T prior to kickoff.

Army Apache Helos fly over M&T prior to kickoff.

Run, run, run, run, run. Navy scored on a one-yard keeper by Reynolds who will continue to build on his record breaking career mark for rushing TDs by a quarterback as he finishes up his junior season with one more game to play this season. The play was reviewed and confirmed, but how the side judge who signaled for the touchdown ever saw the ball cross the plane, we’ll never know.

Somehow under this pile, Keenan Reynolds crossed the goal line to give Navy a 17-7 lead.

Somehow under this pile, Keenan Reynolds crossed the goal line to give Navy a 17-7 lead.

Run, run, run, run, run, run, run, and fumble by Army. Run, run, run, run, run, run, run, and fumble by Navy. Army replaced QB Angel Santiago with A.J. Schurr. Pass, run, pass, sack, pass, pass, pass, run, sack. Army Kicker Dan Grochkowski booted a 52-ayrd FG to cut the Navy lead, 17-10. On sides kick – recovered by Navy. A 19-yard run by Reynolds resulted in a first down with less than a minute to play. The Mids went into victory formation. The Brigade celebrated much to the chagrin of the Corps and the two coaches who started their careers together back in 1989 met at midfield and embraced out of respect, mutual admiration, and friendship knowing that they will likely meet under these circumstances again for years to come. The Corps and Brigade joined en masse for the time-honored tradition of singing their respective alma maters. The Mids sang second for the 13th consecutive year. Army HC Jeff Moncken and his staff will go back to work this week to start planning the termination of that streak on December 12, 2015. Army finished its first season under Monck at 4-8. With Navy’s 7-5 record, Ken Niumatalolo takes his staff and team back to Annapolis to get ready for San Diego State (7-5) at the San Diego County Poinsettia Bowl on December 23 at QUALCOMM Stadium. This is Navy’s last season as an FBS Independent. Next season will be its first in the American Athletic Conference in its Western Division. Should the Mids win that division, it may be possible that they will be playing in a championship for their conference one week before their 116th game against Army. That would be different for the Navy football program which, like Army, sometimes has two or three open Saturdays before playing one another in their biggest game of the season.

Mids savor victory singing their alma mater, "The Navy Blue and Gold".

Mids savor victory singing their alma mater, “The Navy Blue and Gold”.

For CFF.com, this game was our 480th since we started this in 1979. It was our 10th Army-Navy game. Navy has won the seven of the ten meetings including the last five we attended (’93, ’96, ’12-‘14). With Christmas fast-approaching, we have our first bye weekend planned to get ready for The Holiday. Two days after Christmas, we will be attending the first of our five bowl games to finish up our 2014 season. On December 27, we will head over to Yankee Stadium for the New Era Pinstripe Bowl between Penn State (6-6) and Boston College (7-5). Check back for our updates and more college football action and musings as we wind down through the bowls we attend right up to the first ever college Football Playoff! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your families!

Navy Leap Frogs enter M&T from above prior to the game.

Navy Leap Frogs enter M&T from above prior to the game.

Navy flyover!

Navy flyover!

 

 

2014 Music City Bowl : Notre Dame vs. LSU

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We plan to attend this year’s Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl in Nashville for the second year in a row.  Great, fun-loving  city!  Can’t wait to go back! This year,  Notre Dame (7-5) will face off against LSU (8-4).    However, it will not be the first time we’ve seen these two play one another.  In my book, Tales from the Tailgate: From the fan who’s seen ’em all!, I reminisce in a chapter about the first time I’d seen LSU play (Team #16) and my first time I attended a Notre Dame game when they played one another in South Bend.  The circumstances were quite different in 1981 when that it was not the last game of the season for each, but an early season game for both with much anticipation for success.  Below, I provide you with the chapter about the experience 33 years ago.  If you enjoy the story, there’s plenty more where that came from in the book which can be ordered on Amazon.com.  Please click to check purchase the book and read more about it on the amazon website.  Enjoy!

Guinea Pigs at “The Bold Experiment”!

(16) Louisiana State at Notre Dame

September 12, 1981

South Bend, Indiana – Tony Lagratta transferred to Juniata College my senior year to become one of eight rooming together in 201 Flory in the dorm complex know as East Houses. We all got along together fabulously as we all shared common interests—drinking beer, playing sports, watching sports, partying, and harassing one another. That’s all it took. Oh, we went to classes and studied once in a while, too.

Tony was a die-hard Notre Dame fan. Before my graduation in ’79, we made an agreement to plan for a big tailgate party when the Irish were scheduled to play Navy at The Meadowlands in the fall of 1980. With about 60 other Notre Dame fans that came to tailgate in Lot 17B of the Meadowlands on November 1, 1980, Tony brought along his contingent of Notre Dame die-hards. They came to Jersey to join the festivities and stayed at my family’s house in Boonton, NJ, the same town where two years earlier future Notre Dame Coach Charlie Weis started his football coaching career.

Missing from among Tony’s entourage that day was one Dane Taylor. Tony’s old classmate from Cumberland, Maryland actually followed his dream to not only matriculate at Notre Dame, but to also serve the program he loved by becoming lead student equipment manager for the Irish during his senior year. In 1977, Tony had the opportunity to attend the Notre Dame-USC game as Dane’s guest when Dan Devine sparked the Irish faithful by suddenly replacing traditional blue home jerseys with new, green, game jerseys before the Irish took the field. The Fighting Irish stomped the hated Trojans, 49-19, on their way to the national championship. Tony particularly cherished a photo of himself grinning in a picture posed among the visiting USC “Song Girls” before the game.

It was not until 1981 that I paid my first visit to the hallowed grounds of the Four Horsemen, Knute Rockne, and Touchdown Jesus at the invitation of Tony and Dane. Several of us met at Tony’s house in Lansdale, Pennsylvania to board our mobile home-away-from-home, and picked up some more guys on the way to South Bend. By mid-morning Friday, we parked in an RV lot on the Notre Dame campus, ready to experience the historical culture of a Notre Dame, football weekend. For our contingent, this Notre Dame game presented the opportunity to witness a much anticipated historical event in the annals of Fighting Irish football. We were in South Bend to help usher in “the Bold Experiment,” the first game ever under new head coach Gerry Faust. Faust, the highly acclaimed high school football coach from Cincinnati’s nationally-known, powerhouse oft times referred to as the “Moeller Steamroller,” came on board to keep the loyal sons marching onward to victory. In his 18 years at the helm of Moeller, his Crusader teams won 174 games and lost only 17. How could such a coaching juggernaut be stopped? He would do no wrong, so it seemed. Despite no collegiate coaching experience, the Notre Dame administration and faithful followers expected Faust to produce the same magical results at the highest level of NCAA football. He was undoubtedly their man, so it seemed.

We visited Notre Dame Stadium, the school library featuring “Touchdown Jesus,” the Golden Dome, the campus bookstore, The Convocation Center, the Chapel, and even some of the dorms where players lived. We walked all over the place. We all looked forward to the traditional Notre Dame pep rally that evening. During one of our forays across the green, well-groomed campus, our group literally crossed paths with none other than the man who would definitely lead Irish football to new heights. Smiling, happy, affable Gerry Faust led his freshman players to some event across campus, but he stopped, shook all our hands and chatted for several minutes. One of the die-hards declared later that it was “like meeting the Pope!”

That chance meeting left me with a memory more enduring than Faust’s eventual, five-year career at Notre Dame. While some of the guys hobnobbed with the new mentor of the Fighting Irish football program, I eyeballed his group of freshman Irishmen. My thought: which, if any of these guys would go on to eventual stardom? It happens in every program. Some guys rise to the top and others will eventually “wash-out” quickly, never to be associated with football lore again. I noted the one freshman closest to me. This “roly-poly” kid, who looked like he never picked up a razor blade before, had this big, quiet, goofy, just happy-to-be-here smile across his face. He didn’t strike me as athletic, but he was a big kid, definitely a lineman. I thought let me find out who this guy is and see if he ever makes anything of himself, or if he just becomes a footnote in the annals of Notre Dame, football history. When I bought the Notre Dame vs. LSU Official Game Program the next day, I perused pictures of the Notre Dame roster to identify him for future reference. Found his picture—“82 Mark Bavaro TE/DL—Freshman.” I made a mental note of it. Could I pick out football talent or what? Not only did Mark Bavaro achieve All-American honors his junior and senior seasons at Notre Dame, he became an All-Pro TE twice with the New York Giants during a 9-year NFL career.

That evening, we stood in the middle of the renowned Notre Dame pep rally with a clear view to the speakers on the stage. For Gerry Faust and me, it was our first. As he spoke, the crowd continuously cheered. I couldn’t hear a word he said, and I doubt anyone else did, or even cared. The Irish fans were pumped up! Whatever Gerry said didn’t matter. He was going to do everything right for Notre Dame. No team could stop the Fighting Irish now, not with Faust! He coached the Gold and Blue and proved his prowess based on a lifetime, high school record of 174-17. Irish eyes envisioned national championship after national championship. Irish eyes have seen Leprechauns with pots of gold at the ends of rainbows, too!

The game against Louisiana State reinforced Irish hopes. An LSU fumble on its first series resulted in a 7-yard Notre Dame TD pass from Blair Kiel to Larry Moriarity. Phil Carter and Tony Hunter followed with one-yard TD runs in the first and second quarters for a 20-0 ND lead at halftime. Tim Koegel threw a six-yarder in the third to Dave Condemi. Both players played for Faust at Moeller. Faust shuffled in 65 players during the course of the game. LSU eventually put up the final six points with 23 seconds remaining. A two-point conversion failed. Despite the late TD by LSU to make the final 27-9, the ND crowd turned up its chants of “Gerry!Gerry!Gerry!”

The partisan crowd cheered the Irish and their 1-0 coach. They believed they had witnessed the beginning of what they anticipated. Fans were thrilled. Players were thrilled. Gerry Faust was thrilled, but not seemingly concerned about 100+ yards in penalties, or numerous turnovers on offense, especially two INTs among Blair Kiel’s six passes. The new coach overlooked these nuances and focused only on the success of his final score over a now 0-2 opponent. Gerry Stovall’s Tigers would end the season 3-7-1. With No. 1 Michigan’s 21-14 upset loss at the hands of Wisconsin that day, all was right for the Irish. They vaulted to No. 1 in all the polls the following Monday. The cheering didn’t last long though.

Extra point: After witnessing the initial success of the “Bold Experiment”, our excited but weary band of tailgaters headed home in our rented, mobile home from that memorable, “historic” weekend. Along Route 80 before we even left Indiana, a loud, deafening roar started from beneath the vehicle followed by a loud explosion! We pulled over to find that a rubber retread let loose from one of the tires. Luckily, we had double axles and four tires on each. Another exploded and let loose in Ohio. It happened again in Pennsylvania. We left remnants of rubber retreads in each state on our way back. Luckily, we made it through our ordeal in one piece. The same could not be said for a formerly, successful, high school coach applying his skill at one of the greatest, traditional powers in college football. Faust and the Fighting Irish lost the very next week to Michigan, and it got worse after that. The Irish finished the season at 5-6. “Oust Faust!” eventually became the cry in South Bend over the next few years, but the administration lived up to its five-year commitment to the beleaguered head coach who was eventually fired in 1985. In retrospect, we were the first witnesses to the “Bold Experimental Failure.” A 30-26-1 record, two minor bowl games, and no national championships were not the intentions Notre Dame bargained for when Gerry Faust signed up. After his team’s win over LSU, the wheels on our “bus” never came off. The same couldn’t be said for Gerry Faust’s career at Notre Dame.

With apologies to LSU fans, there’s not much to dwell on here from the Tigers’ perspective, but I did make it down to Baton Rouge in 2008 for their 34-24 win over Mississippi State. I found the tailgating there is what it’s all cracked up to be. Special thanks to Mike and Carol Barish for inviting me to tailgate with their friends and family at the mobile home called the G&G Express, also affectionately known as “Stinky”.

I met some fantastic fans at the LSU -Mississippi state game at “Old stinky”.

 

 

No. 1 New Hampshire sacks Fordham in FCS second round

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New Hampshire's defense recorded nine sacks of Fordham QB Mike Nebrich to shut down a potent Ram passing attack.

New Hampshire’s defense recorded nine sacks of Fordham QB Mike Nebrich to shut down a potent Ram passing attack.

Durham, NH (December 6, 2014) – The No. 1 seeded New Hampshire Wildcats jumped out to a 14-0 lead over the Fordham Rams early in their second round game of the FCS playoff aided by a 51-yard TD run by RB Jimmy Owens (West Deptford, NJ) on their first play from scrimmage, an eight-yard TD run by QB Sean Goldrich on their second possession, and courtesy of six sacks of Ram QB Mike Nebrich (12 for 30, 161 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) by their front seven on the first three Fordham possessions. The Rams climbed back into the game to trail 14-12 in a 91-yard TD burst by Patriot League Rookie of the Year Chase Edmonds (18 carries for 208, 1 TD) sandwiched between two Michael Marando FGs. Four touchdowns later by Wildcat RB Nico Steriti (Toms River, NJ) and three more sacks of Nebrich, UNH moved on convincingly to the quarterfinals with a 44-19 victory. Senior DT Matt Kaplan got credit for 3.5 sacks. In the second period, Steriti (14 carries for 110 yards, 4 TDs) ran it in from the 11 to extend the Cats’ lead, 21-12. Brad Pasky’s 30-yard FG gave UNH a 24-12 halftime lead.

Teddy Owens (32) of UNH) sweeps right for a 51-yard TD on the Cats' first play to get the scoring started.

Teddy Owens (32) of UNH sweeps right for a 51-yard TD on the Cats’ first play to get the scoring started.

Cff.com drove to Rhode Island the night before through steady and hard-driving rain and did more the next morning on the way to Cowell Stadium in Durham, NH. Our “tailgate” was held at the friendly confines of Libby’s Bar on Main Street about three blocks from Cowell on the other side of the New Hampshire campus. The rain subsided around the end of the first quarter and started up early again in the fourth, but it had more effect on my travels as opposed to the game action on the field.

Anatomy of a Chase (Edmonds): he takes the hand off.

Anatomy of a Chase (Edmonds, # 22): he takes the hand off,…

...he burst through the line,...

…he bursts through the line,…

...and the Chase is gone!

…and the Chase is gone!

Steriti scored from the seven twice in the third period. After his first, Nebrich tossed a five -yard TD to WR Brian Wetzel three plays after a fumble recovered at the UNH 12. UNH led 37-19 heading into the final period before Steriti finished the scoring for the day with a 24-yard run. Goldrich completed 22 of 37 attempts for 240 yards. Owens carried only three times for 71 yards and left the game with a leg injury before being seen later along the sideline on crutches.

Wildcat RB Nico Steriti had a career high 118 rushing yards and four TDs in the Wildcat FCS playoff victory.

Wildcat RB Nico Steriti had a career high 118 rushing yards and four TDs in the Wildcat FCS playoff victory.

The UNH Wildcats next host No. 8 UT Chattanooga who defeated Indiana State Saturday, 35-14. All the seeded teams won on Saturday except for No. 3 Jacksonville State who fell to Sam Houston State (9-4), 37-26. No. 5 Illinois State (11-1) will visit No. 4 Eastern Washington (11-2) in the upper part of the FCS bracket that includes UNH and UT-C. In the lower half, Villanova got by Liberty, 29-22, and will host Sam Houston. Three-time defending champ North Dakota State defeated South Dakota State in a close one, 27-24. The Bison will next host No. 7 Coastal Carolina (11-1).  If No. 6 Nova and No. 7 Coastal both win next week, we could consider going to the game between the two winners to be hosted by the higher-seeded VU Wildcats on December 19th or 20th.  In the meantime next week, CFF.com heads to Baltimore for the traditional final regular season game of 2014 where Navy (6-5) goes for its 13th straight win over an improved Army team (4-7) under first-year HC Jeff Moncken, former Navy assistant, in the greatest rivalry in all of college football. It will be our 10th game in the series being played for the 115th time. Navy leads the storied series, 58-49-7.

UNH has its defenses ready at Cowell Stadium as it will have home field advantage to get to the FCS championship in Frisco, Texas on January 10.

UNH has its defenses ready at Cowell Stadium as it will have home field advantage to get to the FCS championship in Frisco, Texas on January 10.

Extra points: We attended three Fordham games this season, and each was held at a new venue for us for the first time. The first was at Fordham in The Bronx where they decimated Rhode Island, 57-7. The second was at Bucknell in Lewisburg, PA where they clinched the Patriot League with a 30-27 win in OT and earned their FCS bid. And then there was yesterday’s second round FCS game held in Durham where we’d like to plan some more time checking out the Portsmouth-Durham area.

Charles “Chip” Kelly, current HC of the Philadelphia Eagles, coached as an assistant at UNH from 1994- 2006. For the last seven years there, he was the Wildcat offensive coordinator before heading out west to take over the same position at Oregon where he eventually became HC. From there he moved on to the pros, and quite successfully we may add. From 2004 through 2014, UNH has reached the FCS playoffs. Kelly helped get that started. In 2004, we remember UNH pulling the upset on Rutgers, 35-24, a week after RU beat Michigan State.

Wildcat Winter Wonderland Win! Note the years that UNH competed in the FCS playoffs.

Wildcat Winter Wonderland Win! Note the years that UNH competed in the FCS playoffs.

No. 10 Michigan State ends Penn State’s Big Ten misery, 34-10

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Sparty rallies his team before the Lions enter the arena.

Sparty rallies his team before the Lions enter the arena.

State College, PA (November 29) – After the announced Penn State crowd of 99,902 paid tribute to 17 seniors who stayed true to dear Old White and Blue through the leanest years of extreme sanctions they had to pay due to the Jerry Sandusky crimes that laid waste to the venerable program, No. 10 Michigan State’s R.J Shelton grabbed the opening kickoff and returned it 90 yards for a touchdown to take a super-quick 7-0 lead. The Spartans never looked back as it rolled to a 34-10 win over a Nittany Lion team (6-6, 2-6) that has a lot of improving to do to cut the bindings that holds it back from reaching the heights of the former program it once was. First-year HC James Franklin has to forgo the talk now and do some creative coaching, effective recruiting, and toughness developing to bring this program back to where it needs to be. Sorry to say it’s not going to happen any time soon based on what CFF.com saw at the game on Saturday. The Spartans (10-2, 7-1) in the meantime have become formidable under fifth-year HC Marc D’Antoni and may end up as one of eight teams that will compete in a CFP bowl or at least a significant New Year’s Day game. CFF.com may see them in one of the bowl games we’ve planned to attend at the end of the year. As for Penn State, the feeble loss, one of several this year, and the upset of Rutgers over Maryland, may just knock them to the bottom of the list of B1G schools in the bowl game pecking order. Six of their last seven conference games resulting in losses show them going out with a whimper instead of a bang. Will the Blue and White faithful follow them to wherever they may possibly end up in the post-season? Even more questionable, is this team capable of even giving their fans a better effort than what they’ve shown them during the last half of the 2014 season? It’s hard for us to imagine after watching some of the worst offensive line play we’ve ever seen, non-confident quarterbacking, and questionable play-calling from the sideline. There is definitely a lack of chemistry as has been witnessed all season on the offensive side of the football. If not for a pretty good defense with their backs to the wall on numerous occasions, the Spartans could have won by a lot more.

The Lions entered the Stadium hoping to send their seniors out on a high note.

The Lions entered the Stadium hoping to send their seniors out on a high note.

Penn State’s reply to the opening Spartan score was 50-yard FG that failed. MSU’s Michael Geiger converted FGs of 36 and 39 yards on their next two possessions before the first period ended for a 13-0 lead. In the second, PSU twice crossed the 50 but never got in range for a field goal attempt. PSU frosh P Dan Pasquariello effectively placed his punts on the two and on the 11 on consecutive possessions, and the Lion defense held before the O took possession again on the MSU 40. Sam Fincken put points on the board for the home team with a 41-yard FG. The defense gave the Lions great field position again as quick handed DT Anthony Zettel picked off a tipped pass to put the Lions at the Spartan 36 with 43 seconds left in the half. With the time remaining for a score, even a FG would have given the Nittany Lions some momentum going into the second half. Instead of putting a together a semblance of plays to take advantage of the turnover, the call was made for Hackenberg (21 for 45, 196 yards and one INT) struggling with his accuracy to throw the ball on second and ten into the end zone. He forced his pass into tight coverage that was bobbled and DB Trae Waynes took the ball away for a wasted opportunity. With weak run blocking and an unimaginative passing game, the Lions just seemed to give away a chance to come up with any points. Without some timely PSU defense, the Lions would not have remained within striking distance down at the half, 13-3. With an offensive line that could neither run nor pass block (three sacks on the day) the Lions found point production difficult.

Spartan pressure caused Hackenberg to overthrow on this pass to an open receiver.

Spartan pressure caused Hackenberg to overthrow on this pass to an open receiver.

GGA Steve Ciesla and I talked a lot about PSU on the way up to the game that morning. Successful offensive football teams seem to build their offenses around strong offensive line. Look at recent NFL drafts. Linemen are key first round selections followed by QBs and defensive backs. A few receivers will enter into the early rounds and RBs seem to have fallen into the “dime a dozen” category. Granted the Lions faced sanctions and lost some key players, but previous HC Bill O’Brien seemed to leave the offensive line cupboard bear and when James Franklin came in, he seemed focused mostly skill position players. With this line and a lack of depth coming back, it will seem difficult to recruit immediate upfront talent that is going to step in effectively next season. This current line lacks firepower, strength, chemistry, and quickness as well as some good old toughness and a little nastiness to control the line of scrimmage. How they are going to improve this year and next is going to be a major question. Line coach Herb Hand had supposedly done an outstanding job of building an offensive line at his previous stop at Vanderbilt under James Franklin, but to be honest, we saw last spring that improvement there needed to take place. Since the beginning of this season, this group has regressed. Some PSU fans say they need to go to a bowl game to get this group some more practice. I don’t see any significant improvement since last spring, so I’m not sure what three weeks in December is going to do to turn things around. Maybe PSU will go the JUCO route for a short-term fit if it can. I’m not sure they ever recruited from JUCOs before, but I just don’t see several freshmen coming in at once to make line improvements so quickly. Without bringing in some new talent ready to step in or improving block skills or strength or toughness among the bodies returning, I’m not sure how this squad is going to turn things around a year from now. Something’s got to change. I think many Nittany Lion fans thought this would be the toughest year of the sanctions with incentives for upcoming recruit to get the program back into the national championship conversations, but without a strong core of offensive linemen, it might take a while to regain such desired stature. We will be monitoring the off season movement closely.

PSU CB Jordan Lucas broke up this pass to eventually force a Spartan FG.

PSU CB Jordan Lucas broke up this pass to eventually force a Spartan FG.

Penn State punted after a three and out doing nothing to negate the deferral that led to MSU’s opening kickoff return. Michigan State got the offense into gear right away and drove 63 yards culminating in a three-yard TD run by TB Jeremey Langford (30 carries for 122 yards and two TDs). DE Marcus Rush sacked Hackenberg on the first play of PSU’s next possession resulting in a recovery at the PSU 18. QB Connor Cook (13 for 25, 180 yards, 1 INT, 1 TD) found WR Tony Lippett in the end zone with a 10-yard scoring pass to put the Spartans in control, 27-3. Hackenberg finally developed some rhythm with his receiving corps completing five passes with three different receivers on a drive starting for the 21. Akeel Lynch crossed the goal line from the three to now trail, 27-10.

Michigan State’s next drive resulted in a 44-yard FG attempt that failed. PSU could do nothing and Pasquariello’s rugby-style punt put Sparty on his three. Their subsequent punt from their 30 gave the Lions the ball at their 20. The Lions got as far as the 30 until incompletions and two consecutive holding calls (one declined) put them back on their 20 where the offense turned the ball over on downs. With great field position, MSU opened the holes like Penn State couldn’t and Langford took it in for a six-yard scoring play for a 34-10 lead with 2:14 left, and the game was history. With the opening kickoff, a fumble by Hackenberg on his 18, and a turnover on downs at the 20, the Spartans took advantage to tally 21 points. On the day, the stout PSU defense only allowed 298 total yards against an offense that averaged 514 yards per game. No consolation of course, but a defense leading the nation in rushing defense with a 6-6 record can only be such when its offense cannot keep them off the field longer and cannot put enough points on the scoreboard. Hackenberg was sacked over 40 times this season , hurried consistently, and threw 15 INTs on the season. Under Bill O’Brien, an experienced QB coach, he flourished. Under Franklin, who clearly has sites on changing the PSU offense, he’s done the program no favors this season. Sometimes a coach has to adapt to the talent he has to win rather than trying to figure how to put a square peg in a round hole. If the chemistry wasn’t in place this hear, I’m not sure how it’s going to work next year. If the offensive line shows no significant improvement next season, it won’t make much difference what offensive system is run.

The media says that the Lions will have a meeting on Sunday while they await a bowl invitation. They may be waiting longer than they think. They may be waiting beyond 2015. Michigan State’s bowl prospects hinge on the outcome of next week’s Big Ten Championship game between Ohio State (11-1, 8-0) and Wisconsin (10-2, 7-1). If OSU can win and the CFP committee looks favorably upon them despite the loss of QB JT Barrett lost to injury, they could possibly enter the Final Four. But if they lose to the Badgers or the committee selects four teams ahead of them, the Buckeye decline will determine if the Spartans are considered among the twelve CFP teams to play in the six major Bowls. If not, they could end up in the BWW Citrus Bowl or the Outback Bowl against an SEC opponent on New Year’s Day. As for Collegefootballfan.com, we know our next game is an FCS playoff game. We will take our first trip to Durham, NH where we will see the top team in that division, the New Hampshire Wildcats (10-1) host Patriot League Champ Fordham (11-2) on Saturday at 1 pm in the second round of the FCS playoffs.

Extra points: PSU Senior LB Mike Hull had 13 stops for the Lions. He kept the “Linebacker” in Linebacker U this season.

With snow covered parking areas due to a big snowstorm on Wednesday before Thanksgiving, we parked at nearby State College HS where we tailgated and took a shuttle bus to Beaver Stadium.   GGA Steve Ciesla did the driving as I was radio man on the way home keeping us in touch on various radio stations on AM and FM to keep up with all the scores on rivalry weekend. All my predictions on this week’s preview came up as I had called – ACC 4-0 versus SEC, Mississippi over Mississippi State, and Auburn seemed to be in control of Alabama. Of course, that changed when we got home to see the last quarter on TV.