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College Wrapup: Week 2

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 8, 2008

By The Numbers

7
Total touchdowns (six passing, one rushing) for Tulsa QB David Johnson against North Texas.

147
Punt return yardage for Alabama's Javier Arenas, of Robinson High, in the Crimson Tide's 20-6 win against Tulane. It broke the Alabama single-game record set in 1947 (122 yards by Harry Gilmer).

196-58
Combined score of USC's Week 3 victories in the past four seasons. Each game came after an USC off-week. The Trojans, following another off-week, face Ohio State on Saturday.

374
Amount of career coaching victories for Penn State's Joe Paterno and Florida State's Bobby Bowden. Next up: Penn State at Syracuse, Chattanooga at FSU.

Eye On The ACC

Rewind: This week's MVP - Wake Forest place-kicker Sam Swank. Without him, the ACC probably wouldn't be represented in the top 25 polls. Swank's 41-yard field goal with three seconds remaining gave unbeaten Wake a 30-28 victory against Ole Miss.

Elsewhere, Georgia Tech, under first-year coach Paul Johnson, rallied past Boston College 19-16 on the road in the ACC's first conference game. Potentially, that's a huge result for the Yellow Jackets, who are growing into Johnson's run-heavy offense.

Fast Forward: Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech. The ACC opener for the Hokies, who removed the redshirt from QB Tyrod Taylor (112 yards rushing against Furman). The Hokies must hold serve at home. If they don't, Georgia Tech is 2-0 and rolling with a pair of ACC road victories.

ACC Championship Game Projection: Clemson vs. Miami on Dec. 6 at Raymond James Stadium. We like the look of the young Hurricanes, who could mature in what looks like a wide-open ACC Coastal Division.

Who's Hot

California RB Jahvid Best, who had touchdown runs of 80 and 86 yards in a 66-3 waxing of Washington State. Best rushed for 200 yards on 14 carries.

Who's Not

Cincinnati quarterbacks. First, Ben Mauk lost his NCAA appeal for another season of eligibility. Saturday, Dustin Grutza broke his leg against Oklahoma and he's out for at least a month (USF travels to Cincinnati on Oct..30).

This Week's Key Games

Kansas (2-0) at USF (2-0) - Bulls can use Friday night game as springboard to bigger things.

Ohio State (2-0) at USC (1-0) - This super matchup will set in motion the 2008 BCS power structure.

Georgia (2-0) at South Carolina (1-1) - Last season, Steve Spurrier's Gamecocks won between the hedges.

Michigan (1-1) at Notre Dame (1-0) - Which coach needs it more? Rich Rodriguez, below, or Charlie Weis?

UCLA (1-0) at BYU (2-0) - Rick Neuheisel's Bruins showed heart in opening-game win against Tennessee.

Wisconsin (2-0) at Fresno State (1-0) - Fresno State, known for its upsets, beat Badgers 32-20 in 2001.

Three Things We Learned

- The Big East is struggling mightily. Preseason favorite West Virginia fell to East Carolina, but overall, the league is just 3-7 against Division I-A opponents (and 2-2 against MAC teams). Thing would be worse, had it not been for overtime victories by USF and Connecticut. The Big East can salvage some national-television pride Thursday (North Carolina at Rutgers) and Friday (Kansas at USF).

- The excessive-celebration penalty against Washington QB Jake Locker was ridiculous. It was a display of excitement and emotion, not an over-the-top "look at me'' gesture. If that's a penalty, the rule needs to be changed.

- It's already a banner season for potential BCS-busters. East Carolina, Fresno State, Brigham Young and Utah will be in the hunt for big bowls.

They Said It

"I'm not going to scream and yell. I'm not going to call them dirty, filthy, vulgar names. If that's what people want, they'd better put me somewhere else."
- West Virginia coach Bill Stewart, intent on retaining his locker-room equilibrium following a 24-3 loss at East Carolina

"It's a humbling experience. But I'm sick of being humbled. I don't see another top-five team doing what we did today."
- Ohio State WR Brian Hartline, following the Buckeyes' escape, a 26-14 win against Ohio University

"I've never seen anything like that before. He might not even be human."
- Georgia DT Corey Irvin on Bulldogs RB Knowshon Moreno, who went airborne and leaped over a would-be tackler for a 29-yard run in a 56-17 win against Central Michigan

"We've got two quarterbacks who have not distinguished themselves from each other, in my opinion. And I've got to make the call."
- South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier, deciding between Chris Smelley and Tommy Beecher to start against Georgia, while adding third-stringer Stephen Garcia of Tampa was not a factor "right now"

Joey Johnston

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