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JOEY JOHNSTON'S SIDELINES

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 22, 2007

EIGHT IS ENOUGH

Nobody beats Joe Paterno nine times in a row!

Maybe that sentiment will fire up the Penn State Nittany Lions (3-0) heading into today's road game against Michigan (1-2). Penn State last defeated the Wolverines in 1996 and has since lost eight straight meetings (they haven't played every season in the Big Ten's rotating schedule).

Eight straight losses to Michigan?

'That first time against Fielding Yost Michigan's coach from 1901-23, it was tough,' said Paterno, 80.

Um, that's known as a quip.

If Paterno breaks the Michigan streak today, it would be his 367th career victory, pulling him within one of the all-time Division I-A career wins record held by Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, whose Seminoles are off today.

CUPCAKE CITY

Kansas (3-0) has outscored its early-season opponents 159-20 and outgained them 1,596 yards to 620. The opponents? Central Michigan, Southeastern Louisiana and Toledo.

Today, Kansas hosts Florida International (0-3), which has the nation's longest active losing streak at 15 games.

JUST DUCKY

Oregon (3-0) is averaging 325.7 yards rushing, third in the nation and could be padding that figure today against Stanford. Last season, spurred by the spread-option offense, the Ducks led the Pac-10 in rushing for the first time since 1955. Oregon had a scoring play of at least 80 yards in all three of its games.

'It's the best Oregon team I've seen,' Fresno State coach Pat Hill said after absorbing a 52-21 loss against the Ducks.

Early big-game alert: Next Saturday, California at Oregon.

HEY, USC HAS A WEAKNESS

Last Saturday, Nebraska won the coin toss and deferred. The captains for No. 1-ranked USC inexplicably chose to kick (meaning Nebraska would get the ball to start the game and the second half).

Officials asked USC players if they were sure. Their answer: 'Yeah.'

'Someone said we've won 19 coin tosses in a row, so I guess we weren't ready,' USC coach Pete Carroll said. 'I'll take the blame for it.'

Don't sweat it, Pete.

Final: USC 49, Nebraska 31.

IRISH WOES

With Notre Dame facing Michigan State - and trying to avoid the first 0-4 record in program history - the Irish still haven't scored an offensive touchdown and stand 119th in rushing (minus-14 yards) after three games.

With Coach Charlie Weis under scrutiny, Washington coach Tyrone Willingham, who was fired by Notre Dame in 2004, was asked if he felt some vindication.

Willingham: 'Why would one get a kick out of somebody else's misery?'

EIGHT IS ENOUGH

CUPCAKE CITY

JUST DUCKY

HEY, USC HAS A WEAKNESS

IRISH WOES

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