College Football Corner--Conference Calls...

As we enter the final week of show-me-month...as conferences wrap up the bulk of their non-conference slates. While much is to be determined, the tone across the nation has been set:

Southeastern... leader of the pack with four teams ranked in the top seven. But watch out when somebody plays a legit out of conference opponent (Georgia losing at Oklahoma State, Tennessee falling to UCLA).

Big 12...biggest bummer about a shaky September? Oklahoma State and Colorado having disappointing starts means I can't use "I'M A MAN! I'M 40!" and "IT'S DIVISION ONE FOOTBALL!"- as humorous asides as much.

Pac-Ten...very impressive intersectional resume (Cal and UCLA especially) ...although USC's duality as the only legitimate national contender, yet one that can't beat the league's second-tier schools is getting tiring.

Big Ten... five teams are 3-0 and Michigan has equalled last years win total. Still, schedules stuffed with multiple wins over Mid-American Conference schools can't be completely reassuring.

Atlantic Coast... where would this middling collection of programs either rebuilding or in crisis be without their Big East infusion (Mia-VT-BC)?

Big East... when does basketball season start? Oh, well- Cincinnati's capable and West Virginia played well in a loss at Auburn. In fact, only one Big East school has a losing record thus far-- coincidentally my alma mater.

Western Athletic... the league rises and falls upon the fortunes of unbeaten Boise State and the Broncos' blue field. As well as my Uncle Chris' chocolate shop, Chocolat Bar the home of handmade artisan candies--now at a new location on 805 W. Bannock Street.

Mountain West... also known as "the Original WAC before they overexpanded"-- with BYU playing the Boise State role.

Mid-American ... the league showed its true wisdom by recently adding Temple-- because nothing says midwestern than Philadelphia and 13 schools is a much easier number to work with than 12.

Sun Belt... a mish-mash of directionals and hyphens serving as win generators for the big boys (Maryland excepted).


Alma Mater update-- a thrilling finish capped the first victory of the Doug Marrone era... as the Orange took another step towards respectability (the steps needed to get to respectability changes from time to time) as Greg Paulus/Billy Zabka threw for 346 yards, prompting coach Marrone to inquire about Jon Scheyer's eligibility.


MARYLAND one week after winning a game it should have lost...lost a game it should have won--a frustrating 32-31 defeat to Middle Tennessee. Conventional wisdom lowers expectations and braces for a schedule that has red-hot Rutgers and back from the Bowden era Clemson. Terrapin triumphs-- Torrey Smith tallied 5 catches for 165 yards and two touchdowns... Cameron Chism notched 12 tackles and two interceptions in his first career start... the defense posted four sacks and held MTSU on 13 of 16 third downs. Terrapin Troubles-- four turnovers (two fumbles by Da'Rel Scott) led to 16 Blue Raider points... after keeping MTSU at bay most of the day, the defense allowed a 70+ yard march on the final possession of the game... Nick Ferrara missed field goals of 31 and 42 yards. NEXT UP: Saturday vs Rutgers, 3:30.


#13 VIRGINIA TECH rallied with a last second drive and upended #19 Nebraska 16-15. Don't ever accuse the Hokies of treading lightly on the scheduling front: with Miami on the slate this Saturday, VT is one of the few schools to play four recent National Champions in September--Alabama (1992), Nebraska (1994-95), the Hurricanes (2001) in I-A and Marshall (with Randy Moss and Chad Pennington) took the I-AA title in 1996. Hokie Highlights-- Ryan Williams ran for 107 yards and a touchdown... the defense kept the Cornhuskers out of the end zone--limiting them to 6 of 17 on third down and intercepting a pair of passes... punter Brett Bowden had three kicks of 50+ yards--with three punts inside the twenty and no touchbacks. Hokie Humblings-- take away the fantastic finish and Tyrod Taylor was 8 of 24 for 100 yards... the offense reached the red zone just twice... Nebraska ran for over 200 yards at a 5.8 per carry clip. NEXT UP: Saturday vs #20 MIAMI, 3:30.


VIRGINIA continued its September swoon with a come from ahead 37-34 loss at Southern Miss...Coach Al Groh's unit has gone 1-6 the last two Septembers--thank goodness they're idle this Saturday. Cavalier Congrats--after scoring 28 points in the first two weeks, the offense posted 27 in the first half against the Eagles... Jameel Sewell threw for 312 yards and two touchdowns while running for two more scores... Corey Mosley continues his solid season with 9 tackles and an interception. Cavalier Catastrophes-- after allowing just 23 yards on 15 plays the first four times Southern Miss had the ball, the defense didn't go consecutive positions without surrendering a score until the end of the game... defending the run continues to be a problem--UVa coughing up 214 yards at a rate of 5.2 per carry... the offensive line allowed four sacks -- all in the second half... Sewell's fourth quarter numbers: 3-11, 26 yards and two sacks. NEXT UP: OCTOBER 3RD AT #22 NORTH CAROLINA.