While schools are scrambling for postseason play for the most part the rankings are set at the networks that broadcast the games. And while everybody has their favorites... I'm torn between a few standard bearers. Best Team-- Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson, CBS. Maybe its the HD. Perhaps it's the fact that the SEC is the best league hands-down. Nobody tells the three hour story better than Verne... and nobody adds just enough analysis without stealing the spotlight than Danielson. Biggest Team-- Brent Musburger and Kirk Herbstreit, ABC. Let's just say Brent has a flair for the dramatic... he could sell Akron-Toledo as the game of the century and believe it. Musberger knows the key moments of each game and pounces on them like a hungry lion. Herbstreit does a fine job when ABC and ESPN isn't hyping the fact they fly him to his Brentgames on the ABC private plane. Underrated Team-- Brad Nessler and Todd Blackledge, ABC/ESPN. Nessler isn't the showman Brent is but is more fundamentally sound; Blackledge doesn't have the cool nickname like "Herbie" but has a national title as a QB and knows his stuff. Like Sam Rosen/Bill Maas of FOX NFL, a good team that rises to good games. Afterthought Team-- Tom Hammond and Mike Mayock, NBC. I went on record in 2008 saying that Hammond had such bad makeup for a Redskins playoff game he looked like Betty White, proving that once again I was ahead of the curve in our Betty White-centric world and that Hammond looked like Betty White. Former Boston College Eagle Mike Mayock replaces Pat Haden (who did a fine job)... why couldn't they have gone after say, Joe Theismann? A former Irish icon who loves to talk and knows the game. Too easy.
(By the way, Irish radio has it backwards-- Dick Enberg announces the road games while Don Criqui calls the home games... neither is as good on radio as 25-year voice of the Fighting Irish Tony Roberts-- a great announcer and excellent ambassador for the school before being unceremoniously relieved a few years ago).
Alma Mater Update-- Slyracuse continues its road to redemption with a 42-7 rout of Colgate. No truth to the rumor my cousin Preston Williams was served a restraining order in regards to several kidnapping/headshaving incidents from the Eisenhower administration; thank goodness the statute of limitations ran out and he can live his life in peace. Speaking of law on the SU Hill, I used to get late night hamburgers at the Wimpy Wagon early and often during my time as a student-- only to recently learn the proprietor was allegedly running a full-scale drug operation while flipping late night burgers for the kids. Much like the "very special 90210 episode" where Valerie Malone decides to book bets for Duke at the Peach Pit After Dark (surprisingly another Valerie scheme that backfired when she confused Duke's runner with an undercover cop). Now I know why I always got strange looks when I would say that place gave me my late night fix. Okay, so Colgate is another I-AA team and the Orange have yet to win on the road this season. But 3-1 is 3-1 and after the mess that was the Greg Robinson error... it's nice to not be a steaming carcass the final week of September.
Maryland boasted four explosive plays in its 42-28 victory over Florida International... Tony Logan returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown, Davin Meggett ran for a 76 yard score, Danny O'Brien and Torrey Smith connected on a 68 yard TD and Da'Rell Scott rumbled for a 56 yard touchdown. Wow. Terrapin Triumphs-- redshirt freshman Danny O'Brien threw for 250 yards in his first career start... the defense intercepted a pair of passes in the second half and denied FIU on fourth and goal from the four in the fourth quarter. Terrapin Troubles-- 2 for 12 on third down...while allowing the Panthers to convert 12 of their 21 attempts. Eight penalties for 68 yards. Next: Saturday against Duke.
Virginia disposed of VMI with relative ease, taking a 31 point lead into halftime before cruising to a 48-7 win. What can you learn by pounding the Keydets? Just that UVa recruits much better athletes and the Keydets is a very cool nickname (on par with the Gettysburg Bullets and the Southern New Hampshire Penmen-- with a moment of silence for the late Lehigh Engineers.). Cavalier Congrats-- scoring on five of its first six possessions... with a kickoff return for a score thrown in as a "fries with that"... Marc Verica threw for three TD's while Kris Burd caught 8 passes for 119 yards and a score. Cavalier Concerns-- 3 turnovers the only major blemish... that and the second-tier brie served at Kippy and Buffy's tailgating tent (although they redeemed themselves with a top-notch Sauvignon Blanc). Next: Saturday Florida State comes to Charlottesville.
Virginia Tech began ACC play by knocking off one of the two remaining unbeatens (NC State, the hopes of the league rest on your shoulders)... blanking Boston College 19-0 to even its record at 2-2. Hokie Highlights-- Tyrod Taylor continues to shine, completing 16 of 21 passes for 237 yards...the defense held BC to 2.5 yards a carry and notched three takeaways... Chris Hazley made four of four field goals. Hokie Humblings-- 7 return yards doesn't make one say "BEAMER BALL!" or even "beamer ball"... and 2.7 yards per carry isn't anything to scream about. Next: Saturday against North Carolina State.
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