College football's opening weekend saw an uprising of sorts... in small pockets around the nation... as mid-major schools stunned national powers. #3 Oklahoma? Not okay against BYU when Sam Bradford leaves midway through the game with a shoulder injury (before he returns to the lineup I'm sure he can get work as Ryan Reynolds' stunt-double)... #13 Georgia? Matthew Stafford's successor looks more like Buck Belue than Fran Tarkenton in the Bulldogs loss at Oklahoma State. #16 Oregon? The ugliest uniforms on the planet (thank you NIKE for shipping all of your failed experiments to Eugene) lost on the Blue Field to Boise State before losing their starting runningback to a spazzout. And Northern Iowa was oh so close to upsetting the Hawkeyes. Meanwhile, the beltway was an absolute disaster.
Alma mater update: Syracuse began the Doug Marrone era with a 23-20 overtime loss to Minnesota...as Greg Paulus was rather inoffensive in his debut--after going 10-37 under Greg Robinson, this qualifies as a victory of some sort). Year two of gamewatching at Sign of the Whale picked up where basketball left off...as McLovin and Major D (the Batman and Robin of vocal SU fans in the DC area) held court amidst chicken wings and beer pitchers.
MARYLAND went west and got wasted by #12 California 52 to 13...it wasn't as much that they lost but how they were dismantled--even the late-Saturday west coast timeslot couldn't hide this legalized mugging. TERRAPIN TRIUMPHS-- Da'Rel Scott showed some flash with a 39 yard touchdown run...the defense held Cal QB Ken Riley to 1 for 5 passing in the first quarter... and kicker Nick Ferrara converted on both field goal attempts. TERRAPIN TROUBLES--541 total yards allowed by the "new-look D" (including 6.6 yards per carry)...the revamped offensive line had issues: take away Scott's TD scamper and the Terps averaged 2.36 yards per rush while Chris Turner was sacked six times... and the team lost two fumbles--all but eliminating their minimal window of opportunity against the Golden Bears. Next up: Saturday hosting James Madison.
VIRGINIA TECH was outscored 18-7 in the fourth quarter of their 34-24 loss to #5 Alabama...as the ACC's biggest chance for respect melted in the wake of a Crimson Tide rally-- and made Tech fans reminisce about "the Good Old Sean Glennon days". HOKIE HIGHLIGHTS--stayed toe to toe with one of the nation's elite... true freshman Ryan Williams filled in admirably (71 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries) in starting for the injured Darren Evans... Dyrell Roberts thrilled the Tech faithful with a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
HOKIE HUMBLINGS--Tyrod Taylor was less than ideal: 9-20, 91 yards and an INT while being sacked four times... the Hokie defense allowed 5.5 yards a carry... the usually stellar special teams fumbled a pair of kicks. Excuse me? Beamer ball? Next up: against Marshall Saturday in Blacksburg.
VIRGINIA began their opener with a 14-7 second quarter lead over William & Mary before being outgained 188 to 116 the rest of the way en route to a 26-14 stunner. For a program expected to be rebuilding and in the lower tier of the ACC Coastal Division, one now has to wonder how low the elevator will go. CAVALIER CONGRATS-- um... they had fewer penalties...?....UVa also notched a blocked field goal. CAVALIER CATASTROPHES-- seven turnovers (four fumbles and three interceptions)...the rust was on Jameel Sewell bigtime in his return to the lineup...while Vic Hall didn't look much better ( 2 for 5 for 7 yards)...5 of 17 on third down and 0 for 2 on fourth. Be afraid--be very afraid. Next up: TCU Saturday in Charlottesville.
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