"We'd play at 3:15am if they told us to."-- Oregon coach Chip Kelly.
It may come to that one of these days. The end of baseball's regular season means there's room for alternate programming on weeknights... which means Tuesday and Wednesday night football. Now I have grown to appreciate the Thursday night game, although recently it appears as though all Jesse Palmer and Craig James do is argue over whose teeth is whiter. But midweek games in a sport that owns the weekends? Really? Middle Tennessee against Alabama-Birmingham? That's why I was thankful for 50+ games in the first place per weekend-- so I could avoid the Sun Belt showcases. Oklahoma State playing on a Friday? I'm sorry, but this is the Big Twelve! It aint intramurals... and isn't Cowboys coach Mike Gundy a man? In his 40's? Go after him! I'd even be okay with Thursday and Friday night primetime games because the academic week is largely complete-- and you can't say that a Tuesday or Wednesday night prime time college football game isn't a tiny bit disruptive to student athletes and students in general.
Alma Mater Update-- Syracuse begins Big East play with a trip to Tampa Bay to take on South Florida. Now most of us know that Tampa Bay is most definitely not in the southern part of the state; unfortunately all of the other directional names were taken when it was USF's turn. Another big day is expected at Sign of the Whale; while one of my fellow alums (we'll call him "McLovin") is bemoaning the Metro weekend schedules you can believe there will be wings and an SU victory on the menu.
Maryland is idle this week-- and it couldn't come at a better time. Coach Ralph Friedgen's bunch is banged up and needs the week off to heal. After the off weekend they play 2-2 Clemson, 2-2 Boston College and 2-3 Wake Forest. There's a chance for something special here. As an aside, check out Patrick Stevens' D1scourse.com for a very insightful look at how injuries have affected the team over the last few seasons.
Virginia visits Georgia Tech in a major swing game for both schools-- we know the Cavaliers aren't in the class of Florida State or USC, but can they compete with the rank and file of the ACC? The Yellowjackets were expected to be the class of the conference this fall but have stumbled to Kansas and NC State-- and can ill afford another league loss while they're chasing Virginia Tech. A disturbing trend for UVa: after rushing for 114 yards against Richmond to open the season, Keith Payne's production has declined each week. Cavaliers come up short, 24-16.
Virginia Tech tangles with Central Michigan in what would be a virtual bye week were it not for three letters...J-M-U. While the Chippewas are unbeaten against schools from Virginia this year (33-0 opening weekend win over Hampton), they've looked bad in each successive game with the exception of a 52-14 thrashing of winless Eastern Michigan (no longer the Hurons, they've been the Eagles for some time). Hopefully Frank Beamer's bunch will come out and play a solid first quarter; they've been outscored 41-14 in that period this season. Hokies rally after allowing two first quarter scores, 37-10.
Navy slips at Wake Forest, Georgetown wins over Wagner, Howard falls at Furman, James Madison bounces back with a W against Towson.
Last week: 5-2. Overall: 21-7.
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